Thankful to Celebrate My Life and BIG NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT!!! 3/15/23

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson-

Last week I completed another treatment protocol cycle. I did well with it. My biggest hold up is nausea. Usually, by my second antibiotics dose of the day I feel nauseous and often go to bed with more intense nausea and stomach pain. Toward the end of the second week, I started feeling sick on my stomach after almost every time I ate. I am actually still dealing with this even into my detox week.

A huge thing for me this treatment was my birthday. The last several birthdays I have been severely sick, often stuck in bed on my birthday, but this year was much better. I did have to lie down at one point, but I wasn’t stuck in bed all day nor severely sick all day!!!!

In fact, I was able to go out to eat with some family. My mom went to the restaurant ahead of time and decorated, which was a really sweet surprise. Other than that, my birthday day was low key as I was still doing treatment. It was a good birthday filled with lots of cherished birthday wishes and love.

Prior to my birthday a few folks had asked me what I was planning or wanted to do for my birthday. It was interesting because I found myself resigning to doing treatment and hoping to not be sick. For some reason with all the years of sickness on my birthday before, I felt like my birthday didn’t matter. No one had ever said that to me, nor made me feel that way necessarily, it was just years of illness talking. When it dawned on me WOW, I have so much to celebrate. No just celebrate another year around the sun or the blessings I have, but there have been ample opportunities for me to not be alive. I realized that with my life, in the here and now, even with all its imperfections, it’s so precious and worth celebrating! So I decided to dream if I could do anything simple on my birthday what would it be?

I decided for a Boone half day. Funny, not everything was exactly as I had planned, but it was a really sweet celebration. On the way up to Boone, mom, my sister, my niece Hannah, and I went stopped at a plant store, where I got two plants. Then we went to Black Cat for lunch. Boone is really rich in memories for me, so many came flooding back. Then we briefly walked around Mast General Store, which was fun to watch Hannah walk around the barrels of candy. Next we went and got our toe nails done. We didn’t make it to the parkway as planned but time with family was good. We wrapped up the night with dinner at Dos. Man, it was so good to see so many friends all in one place.

I am so grateful for all the well wishes, gifts, and love showered upon me for my birthday.

Looking forward, I do have some BIG NEWS!!! In 33 days, I am scheduled to have my port removed! I am so very excited and cannot wait for the opportunities that will be opened up by having my port out. The day after my port is removed, I have a big appointment with my D.C. Specialist. We will do a full evaluation and exam, discuss the medications I’m currently taking, and how my protocol will change for the next several months with treatment. I do know in the fall we will be retreating Babesia aggressively to help cut down on relapse rate.

Please be praying for my stomach to accept and digest food properly and without pain. Also, be praying for my joints, neck, and back as they hurt on a daily basis and increase in pain the more I try to do. Pray for stamina and energy, for the exhaustion and fatigue to dissipate. Lastly, please be praying for my finances with medications and port upkeep is still being out of pocket.

THANK YOU AGAIN to everyone who has stuck with me throughout this journey for all the financial giving, the encouragement, and prayers!!! You are truly precious and treasured in my heart!