How I’ve dealt with a recent diagnosis of RA that was onset in the blink of an eye…not over an extended period of time.
My family experienced the most amazing road trip in the summer of 2016. We headed west on Interstate 20, our goal being Sierra Vista, Arizona. A special package needed to be picked up, one which could only be attained in person. In order to make it a full-out road trip, we planned a few spectacular …
“Lord, it’s me again. Please send something—anything! I desperately need help, but You know that already. In Jesus name, Amen.” My tearful prayer lacked length and eloquence, but made up for it in fervor and sincerity. God’s immediate answer smacked me right in the face. His timing is always impeccable. Unbeknownst to me, a …
I am struggling to find words to convey this momentous appointment. I had a large portion of my next post written but I scrapped the entire thing! Not one word of it was copied and pasted to start a new one. More time is needed but I hope to post it soon. It …
I remember the moment I knew something was wrong. It was late afternoon on that fateful day, June 16, 2016. I had been home mere seconds upon our return from the most amazing road trip across the United States of America. I immediately started journaling my unfortunate symptoms and all the variables surrounding my now, very …
As a coping mechanism, I began honing my skill in the art of invisibility. I began shutting out the people I love and trust the most. Seclusion was becoming more and more attractive. I hated living in my own little world, but at the same time, I also loved living in my own little world. My … Continue reading A Light at the End of the Tunnel (Part II)
I will be posting the conclusion of “A Light at the End of the Tunnel” very soon. As I was writing, it suddenly took on a personality of its own. Editing and piecing Part II together has taken much longer than I originally expected. I feel this was for a very good reason. The …
Continue reading "Just So You Know…That Light? It Wasn’t the Train!"
I JUST HOPE IT’S NOT THE TRAIN! The MRI of my cervical and thoracic spine revealed minor arthritic changes on one spinal disc. My family doctor and I were now at an impasse. He said there was no way this minor issue was causing such intense pain in my entire body. I was …
When I was young, I had a new friend at school. I often wondered why she wanted to be my friend because I thought she was the prettiest and most popular girl in the entire 4th grade. I guess this whole “popularity” thing started young here in the USA. She would eventually invite me to …
Gerry and I are what many may call an “old fashioned” couple. I truly wouldn’t have it any other way because that’s what totally works for us! I am more than pleased with our thirty-one year marriage. We are both blessed with full time jobs. We graciously split responsibilities of owning our home. When I …
It was October, 2016... After a somewhat uneventful flight back to South Carolina, I walked into my house regretting not giving it a good cleaning before our departure to Arizona. I had never NOT cleaned my house before any vacation, except for this one trip. I am what most people would refer to as a …
It was September 8, 2016, and excitement started building in my very being. It had been quite some time since I was excited about anything, so it felt strangely foreign to me. With a very important flight planned to Arizona USA just ten days away, it was difficult not to be excited. You see? My …
Since I was typically a healthy person, I had never googled anything as far as my health was concerned. Before June of 2016, there was no need to do this. I always imagined if I did, I would certainly be six feet under in a matter of days. I would eventually toss that thought aside. Curiosity …
I do not recall all the intricate details of this pivotal day in September 2016. I do remember the critical events that led me to the moment that gave me a small glimmer of hope. A shimmering light in the distance was God’s answer to my prayer. *** I also vividly recall the never-ending pain! …
In a recent post, The Fun’s Just Getting Started… I mentioned a conversation between me and my manager about a stand up desk. You may remember, in that post, I was chasing “squirrels” but I finally got to this transformational conversation. Fast forward to now. Have you ever heard of Christmas in September? Me neither, so …
It’s so funny how I plan to write about one thing, and it suddenly turns into a story about MANY things. Some may call it chasing rabbits, I say, “SQUIRREL!” Bear with me! It was August 19, 2016 and I didn’t say a word to my periodontist about the horrendous joint pain I had …
Who doesn’t love surprises? I did, but at this point, living in an alternate little universe, I’d have to say I really hated them! I get it! Hate is a strong word, and yes, my sweet mama taught me better than to use such harsh language, but I had incredibly strong pain to match exactly …
It was painful trying to lie still after moving around, but equally painful to move around after lying still. I was living my life in a paradox. My body was screaming for help and my brain didn’t seem to be firing on all cylinders. Where was a flux capacitor when you needed one? I couldn’t …
Who doesn’t love a great roller coaster ride? I understand they are not for everyone, but I love them! It’s been awhile, but I would hop on one in a second if I could, even at the tender, young age of fifty. (Haha!) The adrenaline rush I get is exhilarating! The more twists, turns, dips, …
My alternate universe made me feel as though I was living inside a glass bubble. My real, and very normal life was just out of reach on the outside of this crystal clear glass. My new reality, on the other hand, is now taking place inside my bubble. I felt as though my forehead was …
God has so intricately designed the human body for everything to cohesively work together. We are all so beautifully and wonderfully made. When one thing is amiss, it could potentially wreak havoc beyond belief, as in my mysterious case. My symptoms began with no warning and quickly created a vicious domino effect inside of my body. …
My Alternate Universe 