Tagged with Lessons …

Observant Eyes

  This morning, walking Cooper downstairs for breakfast, he looks at me concerned and says…  Mommy, do you still have a headache? Since we both have colds and have been a tad miserable off and on for the past few days, I assumed he was referring to our colds.  No buddy. I feel fine this morning, just … Continue reading →

The Dialogue

Some moments just stick with you. A moment not out of the ordinary in my realm, but it’s provided some reflection on where life and this piece of shit brain tumor has brought us. At a Patient Family Advisor Council meeting last week at Emory we were progressing through introductions when a profound dialogue occurred. There … Continue reading →

A Wave and A Smile

  For four years as I’ve driven down a road in my area, I’ve been the happy recipient of a giant smile and friendly wave. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. To be honest I assumed I was mistaken for someone else. Not until I was out running one day … Continue reading →

The 30 Day Gratitude Challenge

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. 30 days to be exact. While I do my best to be grateful year-round and instill values of gratitude, appreciation and giving back with our boys daily; it’s not always easy. I came across this Giving Tree at Pottery Barn Kids and fell in love. To be honest, at … Continue reading →

The Coconut Milk Broke Me

Some moments are best had alone.  Tonight the coconut milk broke me. My day started at 5:45am and never stopped… There were the homemade pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon; making and packing lunches; trips to and from schools; three grocery store runs to three different stores (not worth explaining); laundry x a million that I swear produces like … Continue reading →

Your Voice Has Potential, Share It Wisely

In the past year, two people I had known for decades and a third, the brother of a dear friend, committed suicide. The immensity of the loss shared by these three families and all those who loved them can never be measured. Immeasurable will also be the questions that remain unanswered as is the pain … Continue reading →

Shocked

It’s fair to say that not much of anything shocks me anymore. Maybe life, and this piece of shit brain tumor, have jaded me a bit as I’ve adjusted to a life full of insane (now normal) things and events. Don’t get me wrong, plenty in life is surprising and downright disappointing; such as toothpaste in the … Continue reading →

Pay It Forward Friday

If there’s one thing that I’ve come to understand more clearly on my journey with this piece of shit brain tumor, it’s that you often never know what someone’s dealing with. Too often when no outward appearance of challenge, disability or emotion is evident we fail to recognize that they exist under the surface. Finally … Continue reading →

Revisiting

I had the opportunity today to tour what had been my home for a little over a day. Unit 31, the Neuro-ICU at Emory Hospital Midtown. Beginning my tenure this morning as a member of the UPC (Unit Practice Council) of Unit 31 as a Patient and Family Advisor, I knew I was going to revisit and … Continue reading →

What Doesn’t Kill You Might Make You Insane

I called my mother a few hours ago. I knew she could offer me no assistance being that she lives out-of-state, but I needed her to answer one question and I needed some sort of perspective if possible. Right after she picked up the phone I blurted out… “Is it worse to have a smoldering pumpkin fire … Continue reading →

Wrecking Balls

The journey we’ve been on has been interesting to say the least. There is however, an aspect of our journey that’s been difficult to articulate and more importantly, difficult to carry. Deeply personal, these interactions have framed my perspective as a patient and influenced my point of view as an advocate. The absolute worst part of our … Continue reading →

The Tank Revisited

Growing up, I always admired a piece of art that hung in a hallway off our kitchen titled, “The Tank”.   A watercolor of a collection of rural mailboxes; some filled with mail and newspapers, others empty or with doors closed to the contents. Among all of them was a doorless mailbox with a military tank sitting in … Continue reading →