Friday, October 26, 2007

Medical advice (any suggestions welcomed)

I feel it's necessary to inform family and friends at this time of a medical condition that seems to be getting more aggressive with time and would like to know any suggestions or comments that would help set my mind at ease...

Maybe you've heard of someone having these same symptoms and/or scenarios and can help point me in the right direction. I've been to several different doctor's who give me the same advice as the next, but it is only when I'm hospitalized do they seem to be concerned. After looking up my past admissions they give me the same diagnosis...they hem and they haw, (obviously baffled) and pretty much medicate my nerves for the time being and send me on my way.

The first time I was admitted to the hospital was back in the summer of '95. My neurological functioning flat-lined and I was treated for a stroke. At the time of admission I was young, fit, and no prior medical problems...so I was treated, medication given to ease the surfacing symptoms and then I was sent on my way. I never had anything come up until almost eight years later. Again, neurological symptoms flat-lined and I was admitted to ER, medication administered for stroke-like symptoms, doctor's asked questions, treatment followed, medicated for surfacing symptoms (anxiety), and sent on my way. Symptoms flared a couple of years after that and the same procedures followed. However, each time I've been hospitalized it leaves my nervous system scarred whereas I notice I now stutter at times and have trouble with memory functions (remember things, forgetting one thing to the next within seconds, etc.). I've also noticed that these times of flare-ups are increasing between intervals. Also, I was diagnosed with asthma four years ago which I've since learned due to my hesitance to go to the doctor about my breathing problems when they first surfaced has caused more damage in the long run. As I'm nearing forty, it scares me to think where I'll be at ten years from now, any suggestions (acupuncture, natural remedies, herbs, etc.)??

Hugs~

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Slow Dance (This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital)

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift.... thrown away.

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Friday, October 5, 2007

Just Because...

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT - Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you, or come in and carry you out. Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, mothers, grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins and extended family all bless our life. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead, nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.

God Bless You All~