My Buddy, Andrew

Poor Andrew.....he was diagnosed this week with Graves Disease. We discovered that he had a "Hyper thyroid" and had to figure out the cause. Luckily, it was Graves Disease and not a thyroid nodule or cancer. Anyway, he's been through lots of testing, including taking radioactive iodine and then a scan....what a trooper!! Here he is while he was getting his Thyroid Scan. It was grueling....laying absolutely still for about 45 minutes. Ugh!
F.Y.I. Graves Disease is an autoimmune disorder in which his bodies cells view his thyroid as the enemy and then attack the thyroid, causing the thyroid to enlarge and overproduce. There is no cure, you just try to get the thyroid to stop overproducing. The options were to have him take anti-thyroid medication, or destroy the thyroid with radioactive iodine or surgery. As of now, we have decided to try the medication... at least until he stops growing-- then we could possibly have to decide on the radiation or surgery.

We 're so thankful for great doctors, our families, the Great Physician :) and the support and care from wise friends.....