05/03/2018 – Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Frustrations With Healthcare

Many patients who deal with chronic illnesses, or maybe even some patients with an acute illness, can probably tell you of at least one encounter in which a healthcare professional made them feel invalid. Today I will share one of mine. ||| If you work in healthcare, please know that I hold the highest respect…

05/02/2018 : What Is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?​

Most people look forward to May because it is the beautiful transition from Spring to Summer - at least here in the southern states. But, for me, I'm excited for May because it is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness month! As you can see in the title, today's post is dedicated to explaining what exactly EDS is.

May 1, 2018 – EDS Awareness Month

Hello everyone! I'll begin by sharing a few medical updates. I recently had a full upper and lower GI scope (if you didn't know, colonoscopy prep is so much fun) due to some concerning symptoms I have been experiencing. There are still a few things I can not share due to uncertainty, but so far…

My Greatest Affliction.

This post is long and may be difficult to read. For anyone, this may be difficult to read, but for those who know me very personally, this very well may be devastating as I unveil a very raw and personal tragedy. I began writing this post on June 25, 2016. It has taken a year…

Fragile Hope.

It has been quite a while since I've given a medical update. So many people have come to me at work and church to ask if I'm okay, and quite honestly I don't have an answer to that question. I've neglected to answer wholly, because it is so much easier (albeit much more frustrating long-term)…

The Will to Live

During this short time of being practically bedridden, I thought I might give you all an update on what medical things are happening in my life right now. Where do I even begin? 1. I'll share the most current issue, since it is the reason I can hardly get out of bed and is the…

A Difficult Medical Update.

This does end well, but bear with me momentarily as I share the truth. These past few weeks have been absolutely dreadful. I’ve done the best I can to hide how completely unwell I have felt, and I feel that I’ve done a pretty decent job in my attempts for the most part. I don’t…

Starting Over.

For over a year, I have spent hundreds of hours compiling complicated experiences, writing them out, and authoring a book. When I began writing this book, I was at a very bitter place in my life. I was in a complicated relationship, I had just begun college in a place where I knew no one,…

Brain Surgery – Part Two.

I almost died on the Friday following my surgery. In fact, I really should have died, and we have no way of explaining how I didn't besides...well, God. ----- Click this link to read Part One. ----- All day Thursday (the 12th), I felt like I was progressing at a rate that would allow me to…

Brain Surgery – Part One.

Today marks eleven, almost twelve, days since I had brain surgery. I want to share some details of this experience for two reasons. One, because Chiari is a condition that hardly anyone knows about so I want to raise some awareness about what Chiarians (that probably isn't an actual word) go through. Secondly, I like to…