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
Tagged with Perspective …
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
The 590 Independent Study Revisited
In digging through files a few days ago, I came across a bulging folder with all my History papers from college; a collection of gems and duds. I spent hours pouring over them bringing me back to what feels like a lifetime ago in college. It brought me back to a time when I found myself having to take … Continue reading
A Fateful Friendship
Two years ago in October, I waited eagerly and nervously in my foyer for Kevin to arrive. We had talked on the phone a week earlier when I had bluntly conveyed my dilemma. I needed my hair cut and colored. Yet, there was a twist. It was important for me to share with him before he … Continue reading
730
730 days ago tomorrow, everything changed. I signed on the dotted line. Page after page of dotted lines I signed. Thinking all the while that I must have already lost my damn mind. It had to be good and gone if I was willing to give someone the opportunity and privilege to remove a piece … Continue reading
Silent Struggle
I’d be loaded if I got a dollar every time someone told me they don’t see a difference in me post surgery. You have no idea how I’ve mastered pretending, hiding and compensating. It’s exhausting. I like writing because I can spend as much time as I need to get my thoughts out. My short-term memory … Continue reading
When Your John Hancock Matters Most
I remember turning 18 my senior year in High School. My parents picked me up from school and we went straight to their Attorneys office to formalize my Will, Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will/Advance Directives. Not quite the kick-off into adulthood and a Birthday that I expected, but nevertheless, I understood what … Continue reading
Moments That Give Pause
This post was challenging to write and I’ve hesitated. Hesitated because I don’t believe this is how the majority think or how they work or interact. In-fact, I believe it’s a small minority who, whether burned out or over worked; they’ve lost a connection to the work and people they’ve pledged to help. I write … Continue reading
The Unexpected Gift
Depending on the day, our life goes by many a different name. There’s ‘The Journey’, The Adventure’, ‘The Whirlwind’, ‘The Crazy Train, ‘Shit Luck Train Wreck’, ‘Disaster’ and the list goes on as I’m sure you get my point. Regardless of what Paul and I happen to be feeling, thinking about and dealing with, I’ve consistently … Continue reading
What’s Worse?
Since our beloved piece of shit was discovered before it actually had a chance to show its nasty side with seizures and profound headaches, I suppose you could say that we hit the jackpot. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow where you discover your fate but the sticker on the pot … Continue reading
GREY MATTER LIFE 