A JOYFUL NOISE

The past three weeks has been a whirlwind of a ride with doctors’ appointments and procedures.      Suffice to say, the Lord has really granted me and my Mom a lot of strength as we went through this.  My Mom took me to all my appointments and procedures, as I wasn’t really able to go myself. First off, let me update you all by sharing with you that some of my cognitive issues (I shared with you a while back) have been getting worse—this isn’t a good thing.  This is why most of the time, my Mom accompanies me on most of my doctors’ appointments, especially these important ones regarding my pain issues and neurological issues and NF issues.   You may wonder what I mean when I say my cognitive issues are getting worse.  Well, a good example might be the following: I can be somewhere and be totally lost and not know where I am or what I’m doing; why I’m there or even what time of day it is (despite looking at my watch).  This usual...

It’s been three months since my last update and I apologize for the quiet on my end.  Lately there really haven’t been any significant new developments in my health or any other areas in my life.   The various doctors’ appointments I have had since my last appointments could have been blogged about or shared with, yet there are times my heart knows the words yet my brain can’t figure out how to write it all out.  So, here is the short version to the best of my ability. I have completely healed from my surgery back in the very end of November.   Right now, I’ve been having nerve regeneration pain which is very typical for my type of surgery for this particular type of disease/tumors.   Because of how much tumor and nerve tissue that was taken out, the pain from the nerve regeneration could take up to a year.  There are days it hurts worse than other days.      As far as my chronic pain is concerned, I still strugg...

Let me start out my explaining that this post and health update has absolutely nothing to do with my chronic pain issues that are located in my abdomen and the back of the left side of my head.   I have several complex health issues and I know that it can get confusing at time; and believe, me sometimes when I tell my parents “I’m in pain” my Mom has to have me clarify what type of pain or where is the pain I have.    It’s a bit frustrating.   So, I decided to start out this update by saying up front that this health update has NOTHING to do with my chronic head pain/abdominal pain.    This update has to do with my genetic disorder that I have battled with all my life.   This genetic disorder is called Neurofibrimototis. Background: For a couple of years, I have had on again off again pain at the right side of my temple all the way behind my ear.   I put up with it because the pain wasn’t nearly as bad when compared to the other pain I was...

For as long as I can remember, I have always joked around with others (and probably ultimately teased myself) that UVA Hospital is my “home away from home” and that the hospital and staff is my “second family.”    The thing is, everything about that statement is true.    I see/know nurses who remember me since I was a baby; I have doctors who have worked with me since I was no more than 3 years old or even some who has known me as a baby (and still in practice!).    This healthcare team will never be forgotten.   I’m always grateful for these wonderful UVA caretakers. As most of you know for the past 4 ½ years, I’ve struggled a lot physically.   I’ve been bounced from doctor to doctor.    Finally, I think I’ve found doctors (at UVA) who is willing to work with me, spend time with me, work with my other doctors, and NOT give up on me.     Today, I had a follow up appointment with one of my (many favorite) doctors. ...

There hasn’t been a huge change in things regarding my health since my last update/blog post.    My pain management doctor has tried a different form of non-steroid/non medication injection (for my abdominal pain) that seems to help some (to be explained later in the post).   It may need to take a few tries to see if this treatment works; that is, if I decide if I want to continue this kind of treatment.   As for my head pain and neck pain, my neurologist is doing all he can for now with medication therapy; and working along with my pain management doctor who is holding off other forms of treatment until he can slow down things with my abdominal pain.   In the meantime, I get some relief by going to my chiropractor/kinetic energy doctor in town.   I continue to be grateful for the doctors I have –those who are not giving up on me and trying very hard to try to find a solution to the cause of all this pain.   So far, my pain man...

As you all know, I continue to struggle with my health: my unknown cause of abdominal pain, head pain, headaches, and neck pain.   There are days/weeks that are better and then there are days/weeks that aren’t so good; AND there are days that are so hard for me to function or even eat (especially when it deals with my abdominal pain).   It’s rough; but I try not to complain……it doesn’t mean I don’t wonder sometimes; I wonder why haven’t there been any answers to all of this? A few nights ago, I was chatting with one of my cousins (non-Christian; and she knows our family is very Christ-centered) on line.   She’s a very caring and dear cousin to me and I love her family as well as my aunt and uncle (and of course I love NYC).    As it is with any “chat” conversation (or any conversation for that matter), we start by asking each other “how are you doing?”   If you are like me, I’m very general with people who you know just “ask” this question for the sa...

This past Monday morning, I opened up my email, and received an email from my friend James Arbaugh .  James and I met at Blue Ridge Community College back in 1997.  He's a missionary in Haiti now and even though he's miles away, we still remain in contact.     Because he's a missionary there, I usually expect his monthly updates, but I wasn't expecting this email: ( this is only part of the email) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday as I drove the long trip from Jeremie to Port-au-Prince my mind pondered what would transpire in the next couple days.  Surely there would be a welcoming party, and sweet times of intimate fellowship with caring family and friends.  Probably the same as Jesus on his way to Jerusalem, he knew something was going to happen; something exciting (triumphal entry), something painful (beating, mocking and betrayal), something hopeless that would appear to end in death (crucifi...