So often life doesn’t go the way we planned. We all go through difficulties. We all get sick. Sometimes we end up in those unexpected places that are lonely, painful, and seemingly impossible to walk through alone. It’s easy to expect the people in our lives to come alongside us and help us out. But people are painfully unpredictable. You never really know how someone is going to respond to your trial. Are they going to be there for you or are they going to abandon you in your time of need? This has been on my mind lately. Take a minute to consider this question. How do you handle it when the people in your life let you down in your moment of need?
[Read more…]
14 Important Things I Needed In The Hospital
If you’ve ever been in the hospital for any length of time, you know there are certain things you need. In March I spent over a week in the hospital when my colon ruptured. I had never been in the hospital for this length of time. Because this was completely unexpected I didn’t have any personal items other than my purse. As I lie there in the hospital bed waiting for the surgeon to come in to talk to me I began making a list. I came up with these 14 important things I needed while I was in the hospital.
How to Handle the Unexpected Things in Life
I’m sure you, like me, have gone through seasons where everything seems to go wrong. Literally, one thing after another happens! Those seasons can either break us or build us. Sometimes, the pressure is too much, the severity of suffering is too deep, we break and it takes a long time to regain strength. It would be nice to believe that we will always hold our heads up high, walk tall, and smile through every unexpected thing life throws our way. You and I both know that’s just not reality. Suffering hurts! It’s so hard. How can we handle the unexpected suffering that comes into our lives in a way that keeps us from falling apart? [Read more…]
Adjusting to Life With a Colostomy
At the end of March, I had emergency surgery to remove a large abscess and infection in my colon. Despite going to my local Emergency Room two days in a row with severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and low blood pressure, I was sent home rather than being admitted to the hospital. A week later in a different town and a different hospital, my life was changed and saved. My infection was so severe that part of my colon and intestines needed to be removed. I am now adjusting to life with a temporary colostomy.
5 Things to Remember When Life Gets Hard
Let’s face it, life is hard! Sometimes horrible things happen to us and somehow we get caught completely off guard. No one ever wants to say it out loud but we feel bad for others when bad things happen to them while secretly hoping it never happens to us! Most of us don’t plan for bad things to happen, we don’t want to because we don’t want to think about it. No matter how much we plan and strive to avoid those things we’re afraid of the reality is, they’re still going to happen. We get sick, lose jobs and friends, we struggle financially, we get “those” calls and sometimes we get a terrifying diagnosis. So, I’m going to share with you five things I think you should remember when life gets hard.
[Read more…]
My Unexpected Life Saving Surgery
Not too long after I celebrated my 50th birthday, I found myself facing a very unexpected, life-saving surgery to repair a ruptured colon, remove a large abscess, and a huge raging infection. What I thought was an episode of constipation turned into an event that almost took my life.
[Read more…]
8 Ways to Read Your Bible When You Have Brain Fog
Have you ever had brain fog so bad that it was difficult to read and comprehend what you just read? Brain fog is a common problem for those with chronic illnesses, like Lyme disease, and can be mild to severe and can also wax and wane. Brain fog can make it almost impossible for you to read your Bible don’t worry, all is not lost. I’d like to suggest at least 8 ways you can still read your bible when you have brain fog. [Read more…]
What You Should Know About Chronic Reactivated Epstein-Barr Virus
When I realized that had once again been exposed to mold it totally explained why I have not been feeling my best. I knew something was off about the classroom I had been sitting in every week. I felt woozy, my head felt full and I even experienced some anxiety. Each time I went to this building my symptoms got worse and I began to get new symptoms.
Toxic Mold and Chronic Illness
Recently, I made a trip to see my alternative doctor. I wanted to find out if I could eliminate what I thought was a mold allergy. You’ll never guess what he told me! Actually, you might guess, because you might have the same problem I do with toxic mold exposure! [Read more…]
7 of the Best Goals for People with Chronic Illness
It’s a new year and that means many people are setting New Year’s resolutions. Others hate setting resolutions but feel better about setting goals. I tend to be one who sets goals or intentions rather than resolutions. As I was thinking about my goals I came up with these seven goals for people with chronic illness. [Read more…]