wigblog

James and I took Maddie down to Children’s Hospital on Tuesday (Nov 1) to get her tested for Cystic Fibrosis. It is a rather interesting test.

We got to the lab at about 9:30am and didn’t have to wait long before we took Maddie back to get tested. They used what seemed like 40 alcohol pads to clean off her arm. I hadn’t given her a bath that day, but gees… it isn’t like she rolls around in mud all day! The nurse took these little round flat metal looking things that are hooked up to wires and placed them on Maddie’s arm. The metal disks were previously in this canister that contains some sort of agent that causes people to sweat. She secured the little disks to Maddie’s little arm with bands and snugged them on real tight. Maddie didn’t like that part. She was curiously watching the whole time with the look of wonder on her face, but as soon as the nurse sinched those things tight, she starting crying. James was holding her the whole time and I had to keep her arm from moving… otherwise we would have to start the process all over again. The disks only stay on for about 5 minutes which is great when you have a wiggly little child!

After the disks came off, the nurse attached this sweat collecting thing to her arm. She then placed a heating pad over it and bandaged the whole thing up. It looked like my child was wearing a small cast. I have to admit… it was pretty cute. We had to wait 35 minutes, so I proceeded to stand in the sun while holding Maddie to make sure she sweats. Oh my gosh… it was SO hot outside. James didn’t bring a hat with him, so I had the pleasure of being in the sun the whole 35 minutes. Don’t worry… Maddie’s skin was not exposed to the sun for that long… I just had to make sure she was really warm so she would sweat enough!

After the 35 minutes we went back inside. They collected the sweat from the thingy and put it in this tiny little jar. The stuff in the sweat collector turns the sweat blue… interesting. So that was it… then we went home and waited for the results.

We FINALLY got the call right at dinner last night (Nov 2) with the results of her test. Yeah… she doesn’t have cystic fibrosis. I have to admit that I wasn’t all that worried. A little part of me concerned, but I really didn’t think she had it. I was small, James’ mom gained weight slowly, she is an active little bug… I think she is fine… and the test proved it. Whew!!!!