One Year: June 26, 2014

Here is a recap of what has happened over the past year!

Counts:

4 major surgeries (June, December, and 2 in April)

5 Hospitalizations (June, July, August, December, and April)

3 Emergency Room Visits

7 weeks of IV Therapy (including potassium, magnesium, and fluids)

5 Scopes (EGD)

4 CT Scans

1 MRI

6 Abdominal x-rays

2 Nasal Feeding Tubes (12 weeks total)

1 (still current) feeding jejunostomy tube (8 weeks and counting)

Home Health deliveries and nursing visits

21 labs drawn

Countless needle sticks

Countless Doctor Appointments with both the Surgeon and Gastroenterologist

Weight:

Previous weight: 222lbs and BMI of 34.77

Lowest Weight: 117lbs and BMI of 18.32

Current weight: 127lbs and BMI of 19.89

Goal Weight: 140lbs and BMI of 22

Things I have learned:

• My family cares more for me than anyone in this life. They have never left my side and have been there for me through all of this. Including spending days (and nights) on end in the hospital. Their unwavering support and love keeps me going every single day! I can always count on them to pick me up when I feel like I have been kicked to the ground.
• I have the 2 most caring, supportive, patient, knowledgeable, and loving Doctors around! They have never given up on me and get just as frustrated as I do when I am not doing well. They listen to me and my concerns and don’t make me feel like I am crazy! They are more than just Doctors to me; I would call them my friends. Without the 2 of them, I am sure I would still be super sick…or dead!
• I have a fabulous support system of current co-workers, previous co-workers, and friends who will always stand behind me.
• I am stronger and have more courage than ever before! I know I can do anything and survive anything that is thrown at me! I am a survivor!
• I have learned to just laugh. Life is too hard. I try to take each day in stride and do my very best.
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At this point, I would say going through all of this was worth it. There are still days I might not agree to this statement but overall I do feel better. I can eat and not be sick and I don’t live in the bathroom anymore! I feel like I do have some form of normalcy and a semi pain-free life! I feel very blessed! It’s crazy to think of how much has changed in one year’s time. Not just all the physical changes, but emotional and mental changes also.  I am a better person today than I was a year ago!