My routine over the last few years has stayed fairly consistent no matter what month of the year. It mainly consisted of running from appointment to appointment, test to test, spending more time with my doctors and other medical professional than my friends. Not only did I spend much of my time in the same … Continue reading The summer of self-discovery
Three summers ago, I was laying in a hospital bed in the fourth floor of our local hospital. I slowly try and pull myself up in bed, the new incision in my stomach pulling and causing pain. After I sat up, I hesitantly walked over to the mirror by my bed in a hunched over … Continue reading How social media helps (and hurts)
This past year was probably the toughest year of my life. With my health posing lots of challenges, I had a lot of hurdles to overcome and mountains to climb. Yet, because of all of this, I learned so many beautiful lessons I would like to share with all of you. I realized how much … Continue reading 2016.
I've had this sense of impending doom overhead for the last little bit. It first started out with my birthday last week. Last years birthday wasn't so great. I had just been discharged from the most mentally, physically, and spiritually draining hospital stay. Needless to say, I didn't have the energy nor necessarily the desire … Continue reading On Turning 20 & Decision Making
Picture the worst stomach flu you've ever had. Imagine the nausea, how awful you felt, how you couldn't keep any food down. Now, imagine that feeling never ever went way. You thought you just had a flu but you never got better. That's what it's like living with gastroparesis. Out of the handful of diagnoses … Continue reading Gastroparesis: The Basics
Thursday, the day of the benefit, started out as a not-so-good day. On Wednesday, I had an appointment at the hospital which always take a long time and wipe me out. Not to mention, my hips were dislocating left, right, and centre so I was pretty sore after that excursion. When I woke up the … Continue reading The Benefit
I'd never understood the old adage "it takes a village". I've always been a pretty independent person; happy to be in the company of others but equally happy to spend time on my own. Lately, I have come to have a much greater understanding of what that saying means. As most of you know, nearly … Continue reading A Letter to my Village
In February of this year, I started getting nightly infusions of saline through a PICC line. As we all know, hydration is a big part of health and nutrition and, due to my limited intake caused by gastroparesis, I wasn't getting nearly the amount of fluids necessary to stay hydrated. Fluid consumption also plays a … Continue reading Finding my Voice
After receiving my first Xolair injection about a month ago, I've been feeling pretty off. Actually, let's be honest here. I've been feeling awful. The day of the injection, I developed a headache, followed shortly by an earache and body pain, then proceeded by a crazy amount of nausea. I'm pretty used to living with … Continue reading Making the Most of Grad Week
Dear new graduate, Only two short years ago, I was in your place. I vividly remember the bittersweet feeling of the occasion; the excitement for things to come, the butterflies in your stomach as you walk across the stage to collect that diploma your worked hard for years to achieve, the pride of being recognized for … Continue reading A Letter to the Grad Class of 2016
The Invincible Summer 