They aren't the partners they once were, Martha Worthy says,.
But she still wants the community to keep praying for her daughter, her miracle daughter.
! ! ! Markita Worthy turned 32 Wednesday ! ! !
It isn't a big deal for many people, but it's big for Martha, because it's 30 more years than doctors ever gave her daughter to live.
Markita has struggled with medical conditions her whole life, some so rare it took doctors a while to diagnose her.
But she's trying her best, despite some lingering problems, to make a life for herself.
Martha had been a constant presence in Markita's life, but in the past year, Markita's father returned, and the woman has been trying to reconnect with her father.
But Markita's medical conditions have worsened, Martha says.
Markita was diagnosed with Fanconi's syndrome when she was 2 months old, in 1976.
According to the HealthAtoZ Web site, "Fanconi's syndrome is a set of kidney malfunctions brought about by a variety of seemingly unrelated disorders. The malfunctions lead to excessive urine production and excessive thirst, resulting in deficits of water, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and other substances in the body. It often leads to bone disease and stunted growth."
Getting Fanconi's so young caused other complications.
She's been in and out of hospitals throughout her life, from Los Angeles to Charleston to Gainesville, Fla. and Chapel Hill, N.C. She's been in intensive care units two or three times.
She's had procedure after procedure to see what was wrong and what could be done.
When doctors told Martha to be prepared, that Markita wouldn't make it past 2, she didn't listen. But she did pray, a lot, and she continues to pray for the woman she calls "her little angel."
The breakdown of her kidney has effected her liver, and she has cirrhosis. She has irritable bowel syndrome and last year developed chronic obstructive pulmonary syndrome, affecting her breathing.
She has gotten worse, however, and before Christmas, she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, in which fluids build up in the body even further. She was given six months, Martha said.
If the doctor's prognosis is correct, Markita has about a few more months. Hospice has been contacted.
But Martha has heard such deadlines before.
Even though she doesn't get to be around as much � they are estranged because Markita is trying to connect with her father � Martha knows what to do. She is praying and she wants people to think of her daughter, and pray for her.
Markita wasn't supposed to live past 2-years old, and, with mother's love and prayer, and her own determination, Markita's made it 32.
She wasn't supposed to live, wasn't supposed to walk, wasn't supposed to talk. But she's done all that, with prayer.
