Significant Other~Will Never Your Eyes, Soul, Heart Forget!!!!!

For this MOWer's blog carnival, we are to blog about our significant other.

When I first looked into your eyes,

I knew you would hold my hand.

On our first date, you looked in my eyes

and said, by my side, you would stand.

How did you know already that you loved me?

How did I know that you would never leave my side?

The eyes are the windows to the soul, you see, 

and we gave each other our souls as we met with our eyes.

When you told me you loved me,

I already knew

that I was in it for the long-run, sweetie!

Because I Loved You too!

Unfortunately, you were in it too,

and your long-run was quite bumpy.

My life ended up quite chronic and way too true!

When you said "will you?" you also got my chronic pain~crummy!!!

I said yes! without a thought.

I know you had at least one or two...

There hasn't been one struggle that together we haven't fought

because we are soul mates, and that is what we do.

For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health,

If only we knew how hard it would be.

I never wanted wealth,

but one day with no pain would be SWEET!

You have made each day a little better,

and each night with less pain,

You have made me able to write this letter,

and given me a kiss that takes all the bad away!

Do I take you to be my husband?

Yes, yes, yes!

I would do it again and again.

You have kept me from becoming a complete mess.

You have taken on so much

from helping with our home,

to cooking without a fuss,

and most importantly--being my caretaker/caregiver all on your own.

You bathed me,

shaved my legs and washed my hair.

You help with our baby,

and you always care.

I have had surgeries,

even replaced my joints.

You have taken me for I.V.'s and helped with injuries,

and you have always been there, which gives you brownie points!!!

I will say "I do" again and again,

I would hope you would too.

In this relationship, I win,

but I hope that you would also again and again say "I do".

I hope that just because my body is falling apart,

you will always know who you met,

when you first looked into my eyes, into my soul and saw my heart.

That person is still there and will never your eyes, soul, heart forget!!!!!

I Click My Heals Together Three Times...There's No Place Like Home...There's No Place Like Home...There's No Place Like Home...And I Find My Happy Place!

"We've all heard the expression 'Find your Happy Place.' That may be a tough thing to do as a chronic chick. So this edition of PFAM asks 'Where's your Happy Place?'"

I could easily say my favorite place to go is the ocean. I love the beach and the sound of the water as the waves hit the shore. It is peaceful and relaxing. I could also say that I enjoy walking through a particular park in St. Louis. I love the neighborhood that surrounds it, and it reminds me of when I was younger, meeting my husband, and starting my life as a young adult. I could also say that going to the aquarium in Georgia & Kentucky calms my soul. I have mentioned before that I so loved to dance, so anywhere I could dance would certainly bring out that passion.  Of course, I have yet to mention the one place where I truly find HAPPINESS.

I don't have to go very far, you see...

The best part about this place is that anyone can go there, you don't need an invitation, you don't need a plane or a car, and you never have to leave your living room!!! That's right. My Happy Place is a state of mind! I can get there when I am having a relatively pain free day and have friends to share laughter with, or if I'm having a painful day and use humor and laughter to simply release endorphins and make me feel better. They say laughter is the best medicine. Well in this case, laughter, humor, a comedy, a joke, the newspaper's funny pages all can take me to My Happy Place.

I have learned that every single day it is important for me to take the time to think about the important people in my life and anything else that God has blessed me with in my life. No matter how badly I think I have it, there is always something I am blessed with. It is never helpful for me or anyone to focus on the negative, but sometimes we do get stuck in funks, especially when we suffer from chronic illness and pain. If everyday we take that time and focus on the positive, like me you just might find that it helps you get to your Happy Place much easier. It makes since. Doesn't it? When we concentrate on the positive, we are happier than those who dwell on the negative.

It might even help if you take it a step further. You could actually write a thank you letter to someone who has helped you out significantly. You don't even have to actually give that person the letter. Just putting those words down on paper or typing them out on your computer will amaze you.  Expressing gratitude shoots the happiness quotient up a notch! Afterward, I'll bet you even stay in your Happy Place longer than if you didn't write the letter.

I have found that finding My Happy Place is easier when I am doing something that I love. I enjoy many different things so I am extremely fortunate to be able to get to My Happy Place often. Writing and blogging, painting, dancing, swimming, and meditating are just a few of the activities that I love to spend time doing. So when I'm able to have fun doing something I'm good at, I'm at My Happy Place in no time. What's better is that one of my strengths is social connection. Given the chance to interact meaningfully with other people and practice self-expression, allows me to choose hobbies that involve others. I get to meet lots of different people, and many times I can do it from home, even online. So how great is it to be able to go to My Happy Place when I'm online, say chatting it up with my facebook friends or other social network buddies who also have chronic illnesses, who are also looking for a social connection, to interact with someone and find their Happy Place!

Finding the time to volunteer, donate my time, do simple acts of kindness, and just being generous basically adds up to doing good to others. I feel that is extremely important to getting to My Happy Place quicker. Ya know why? Well, it raises the happiness factor. It just does. You give to others; you are happier. Therefore, you reach your Happy Place much faster than if you didn't do good to others. Simple!

Mostly though, I am able to get to My Happy Place with my little family. I just have to sit in our sun room with baby toys spewed all over the floor, my hubby making funny noises at our son, my son sounding like a pterodactyl screaming, my dog licking the food off my son's face, and me~well, I am just in awe!!! Yes, this is what I always wanted! I always wanted this! Believe it or not. I prayed for this.  Who wouldn't want a child that sounds like a pterodactyl, a dog that keeps their kid clean, and a hubby who sounds just like the baby!?  It is exactly what I pictured My Happy Place to be. When I'm here at my home, and in that "Happy Place" state of mind, it's a relaxed, calm, peaceful kind of happiness. But whenever I am away from my home and want to go to My Happy Place, I go here to the sun room with the toys and the kid and the dog and the hubby!

These are my steps to getting to My Happy Place since you can't get there by car, plane, train or boat. You have to train your brain. This is how I do it. I hope it helps you. I hope that you can enjoy your Happy Place as much as I enjoy mine. I hope to meet up with you sometime. Perhaps our Happy Places will cross paths.

1.   First, I decide, "Do I want to be happy right now?"
2.   If the answer is yes, then next, I tell myself that I have permission to be happy.
3.   Then I understand that I am in control of my own happiness.
4.   It is OK to feel my own feelings and to laugh.
5.   Focus on the positive.
6.   Show gratitude.
7.   Focus on my strengths.
8.   Interact meaningfully with others.
9.   Do good and be kind.
10.   Live in the now~find My Happy Place!

Hope

I have faith that tomorrow they will find a cure

   for all those with joints~pain and stiff.

  And have confidence that all of us who dream, plan and wish

only hold in our hearts an optimism and a courage that is pure.

The likelihood that many of us could end up as cripples

   is a possibility that is high.

   Chances are that you and I

can expect a cane, then walker, then wheelchair~the effects that ripple.

I trust that you desire for more.

   For I yearn to dance!

   I again want to look forward to a second chance.

I want to at least be as normal as I was before!

I long to take endless walks,

   to not have to plan for rest breaks,

   to just anticipate~

For anything fun! And no longer expect that others will gawk.

If I can set one goal today,

   my wish is to set my expectations high.

   I promise to myself and others to aspire

to reach these in good faith.

*******************************************************************

I have hope that tomorrow they will find a cure

   for all those with joints~pain and stiff.

  And have hope that all of us who hope, hope and hope

only hold in our hearts a hope and a hope that is pure.

The likelihood that many of us could end up as cripples

   is a possibility that is high.

   Chances are that you and I

can expect a cane, then walker, then wheelchair~the effects that ripple.

I hope that you hope for more.

   For I hope to dance!

   I again hope to hope for a second hope.

I hope to at least be as normal as I was before!

I hope to take endless walks,

   to not have to hope for rest breaks,

   to just hope~

For anything fun! And no longer expect that others will gawk.

If I can set one hope today,

   my hope is to set my hopes high.

   I hope to myself and others to hope

to reach these in good hope.

In Hopefulness, 

Dana Morningstar

 
  

This is for the next MOWer's blog carnival. I hope you all find what you need from this blog post!

When Regret Gets The Best of Me...Regret Enters The Dark Hole With Me!

For the third post for the MOWer's Blog Carnival, the subject is Regret. Wow! Now there is a topic that a person with any chronic illness that involves disabling pain would understand!

I think we all probably could have a lot of Regret if we allowed ourselves. We can be rough on ourselves too as chronics.  We have to give up a lot; we miss a lot out of life; we lose a lot of friends (or I guess they weren't true friends to begin with, but it still hurts); our family gets smaller (they stop calling, stop listening--if we were lucky to have them ever start listening--they simply fade into the distance); our dreams disappear or remain just that--dreams; our goals become inconceivable; life becomes less fun; and the world becomes smaller.

I believe that when we start to think and feel this way, that is when we begin to regret things in life that we have done or that we never achieved.  We start feeling this darkness, this sadness, emptiness, and we feel like we can't get out of this dark hole of dwelling on all of this "stuff." That is when the regret enters the dark hole with us...

...Remember when you were a young girl?...You were such a beautiful, delicate ballet dancer. You were SO young then. You danced at the performing arts studio three hours a night and went to school. You had so much energy then!  Remember when you were in contests and shows and tours with professional ballet companies? The GRACE was flowing through your veins, and I do believe you were high on life! You were so joyous then, and the music was a part of you. Flowing, floating, leaping, bending; strong, determined, directed, creative; over-achiever, highly-commended!

You had such talent! You were so far ahead of the other young girls your age. You could have made it so far. What if you continued further as a dancer? Where would you be today, Dana? If you didn't stop dancing so young, would you have been able to still be a ballerina? Well, probably not, but if you stuck with it, you could have gotten in at least another five years, maybe ten. But you were a quitter!!! Quitter, quitter, quitter! You will never know now how far you would have made it with your exams with the Royal Ballet in London. Sure, your first time, you got Honors--not one point taken off for anything--not for the written part, the oral part or the dancing part. And of course you got Highly-Commended for your second exams because you got one point taken off, and I bet you even remember what it was for. Don't you? What if you kept dancing. Would you have continued to do well on your exams? Would you have continued to move up? You will never know, will you?

I'm here now to help you remember all that joy that ballet gave you. I'm here to remind you that you quit before you were too sick to keep dancing. Then you actually were too sick and had to stop your love for ballet. Now I'm here to really rub your nose in it. You can't go back and do it over. You don't get to press rewind and play it all over again. It's too late!! Quitter, quitter, quitter! (by: Regret)

After Regret makes you feel horrible about yourself for a decision that you made years and years ago, then you start to focus only on that.  This is the one thing that always allows Regret to grab hold of me. I loved ballet with a passion that I cannot even put into words. I dream about dancing when I sleep at night (well when I do sleep, which is rare these days).  I dwell on it so much sometimes when Regret gets the best of me, that I can't stop sobbing. The tears flow. I gasp for air. I can never be that ballerina again...

I am not even graceful anymore. My own husband never knew me as a ballerina. I think that's sad because that really is the true me. I will always be that ballerina deep inside. I just can never again glide across the stage on my toes, leap high into the arms of a gentleman dancer who catches me safely, or twirl so fast that my head whips quickly so I can spot something on the side that I'm turning toward so I don't get dizzy. My feet ache so badly from plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis, and my toes all have arthritis in them. I have a hip and a shoulder replacement, and my neck will never "whip" again because of the arthritis and bulging disk in my neck and lower back. 

Just so everyone knows, I stopped dancing for a boy...I had a boyfriend who played hockey. I wanted to watch his practice and his games, so I QUIT ballet! Yes, I really was a quitter! I was young, so I didn't think I was never going to have the chance to go back to ballet. I thought I had all the time in the world. I Regret thinking that way...

From here on out, I will never not do something or put something off or quit something because I think I could take care of it at a later date. Anything can happen. My Avascular Necrosis happened, and it happened very quickly in six joints, and psoriatic arthritis happened, and then psoriatic spondylitis happened, and sjogren's happened, and fibromyalgia happened, and hypertension happened, and endometriosis happened, and hemiplegic migraines happened, and pseudo tumor cerebri happened, and a hip replacement happened, and a shoulder replacement happened, and all the surgeries, meds, and side effects that go with it all happened!!!!!

I have realized that if we look back at everything that we missed out on, and dwelled on it and Regret all that we could have done because of it, we can't move on in life. It is like being stuck in that black hole and having Regret treat us like shit the whole time--tearing us down, reminding us of stuff we did or didn't do, making us remember stuff we don't need to remember or we want to forget. Ya know we might just want it to be that--a memory. 

For me, I have made ballet a wonderful memory. I have learned to fill it with other things. The music and I were one with ballet. I had always "felt" dancing because of the music so now I take dance classes that are less stressful on my joints. I take classes like NIA and belly dancing. I love them, by the way. No, they aren't ballet. To some, they may be the most wonderful dance classes ever. To me, nothing will ever replace BALLET, but I am no longer in that dark hole with Regret!

I would love to one day teach little children ballet. I know the fundamentals, and I love children! I think that just might fill that void almost completely.

I would like to end this by saying that I may not be able to actually dance as a ballerina anymore, but in my heart, mind and soul, I will always be a ballerina. No one can ever take that away from me. I will continue to dance in my daydreams and in my dreams while I sleep.  And I will leave you with this...

You don't wake up one morning and say, 'I will become a dancer.' 

You wake up one morning and realize you've been a dancer all your life, and you say to yourself, 'I am a dancer. I am dance!' (By: Anonymous)

 

My New Found Independence!

Since our next carnival happens around the USA 4th of July holiday, we were asked to submit a post on the theme of independence.

Let's face it: chronic illness can definitely be a challenge to a person's autonomy and self-reliance; how has chronic illness impacted my self-sufficiency and ability to do things for myself?...

Independence is such a strong and powerful word for anyone with disabilities.  When I say the word, I get a lump in my throat and fight the tears in my eyes. For those of you who know me well, you know that I have been through some pretty rough times, and I have had to depend upon others, mainly my husband, to take me to doctor appointments, reach for things on shelves, and do many of the household chores. I had come to think that I would never reach a point where I could actually feel the freedom of independence...

Many people that didn't know me through the really hard times, and yes I still have hard times, but I'm talking the times where I needed help to get out of bed, to get in and out of the shower, to shave my own legs, and so on, find it hard to believe I was ever that dependent on another human being.  Well, let me be the one to break it to ya...I was. I was in a wheelchair, then a walker, then a cane, and slowly made my way out of using the cane. Then when my shoulder collapsed, I was unable to use my right arm for anything. Then it was in a sling until it was replaced. Then it was in a sling after it was replaced, then the range of motion was limited for several months. Now I can reach up and grab things off the top shelf--well not quite the top shelf because I'm not tall enough!

I was originally dependent on others for my lower half of my body, then it was the upper half of my body. Now with all the problems with my spine, I'm having some problems with depending on people for only certain things like making the bed and bending over for some things, as well as lifting heavy things. Also, my fingers are still in pretty bad shape so I am sometimes dependent on people if I need to do anything that requires intricate work with my fingers. Also, my other hip and both knees will collapse at some point and so I have to be prepared for the fact that I may have to depend on my hubby once again for my lower body again, and my other shoulder will collapse at some point as well, so I will be dependent on my hubby for the upper part of my body as well. I don't like to dwell on it, but I keep it in my mind so we are prepared for when it does happen.


At this point, other than some minor issues of dependence, which I would consider to be more than I need some help now and then. Right now I depend on no one. I feel as though I can finally say I am FREE! I feel a freedom that I never thought I could ever feel. Thank God! I get myself out of bed, I take showers alone, I dress myself, I take care of my baby while my hubby works,--feeding, diaper changes, baths, playing on the floor, etc.--shopping, cooking, cleaning, and laundry!  I really, truly feel so free because of this wonderful independence. What a gift!


This fantastic gift of independence came at no better time also! I had my shoulder replaced in March and adopted our first son in December. I must say, all the stars must be aligned just right for me!  Independence is a gift unlike any other gift. It keeps giving every single day when I figure out more and more I can do with this new found freedom! 

I know that the freedom that I am given with this independence will not last forever. There will always be this impending doom leering over me. I know what my future holds with surgeries, etc. I will have to live each day as though it is my last day of freedom...my very last day to enjoy my independence.

"Guilt"

It is that time again! It is time for the second MOWer's Blog Carnival. The title is "Guilt."  Now, I just wrote about guilt not too long ago, but it is something that seems to enter the lives of someone with chronic illness/chronic pain quite often. Actually, being human, we are the only animals that are faced with the feeling of guilt.  When guilt surfaces, it eats at our soul and resurfaces over and over again. Many times the guilt can make the illness even harder to bear.

I am currently faced with the guilt of not being a good enough wife. We recently had visitors for 3 weeks in a row--friends, then a friend, then my parents, then my mother-in-law, and then the rest of the family. My friend and her hubby and 2 kids stayed with us a couple days, and then went home, then my friend came back by herself so we could go to a concert. Then she stayed for my son's baptism since she is the Godmother. Then my mother-in-law also stayed with us, and the rest of the family stayed in hotels. So family from out of town and friends that live in town came for the baptism on Sunday. The baptism and celebration to follow turned out to be wonderful, but the planning and getting all the food, drink, cake, and decor together was a lot of work.  Also, getting everyone together, and knowing that everyone was traveling from out of town to get here, was very stressful.  Yes, it all got done, and it was a beautiful ceremony and a lovely celebration. But when it was all done, and everyone left, I literally collapsed!

I slept all day yesterday whenever Michael was taking his naps. When he wasn't napping, I watched him play on the floor with his toys or in his pack 'n play or his jumper. Today, I slept again all day!!! My hubby acted like he didn't even understand why I was so tired/fatigued/in pain. He wondered why things weren't done, and he wanted to know how I was able to take care of Michael if I couldn't do anything but lie around all day.

Here is where the guilt comes in...

I know I need to do laundry. I have sheets and blankets because we made up places for guests to sleep. I have regular laundry to do that I didn't do while guests were here. I have regular cleaning to do and dishes. Now I need to continue with the normal everyday stuff~make bottles, make dinner, change diapers, feed Michael, feed my hubby, take the dog out, feed the dog, walk the dog, etc.  I can hardly do the normal daily activities, let alone anything extra from having guests for 3 weeks. My housework is so far behind, and I have no energy!!!

I feel so guilty that I can't be a normal wife and parent!!!

The use of guilt here is not referring to the fact of being guilty of something, but to seeing or projecting my mistakes, while not knowing what to do about them or refusing to correct them. In this definition, guilt is a negative, paralyzing emotion, based on non-acceptance of myself or the situation, and it leads to depression and frustration rather than change or improvement. Guilt is usually a negative focus on myself: I am a bad person. I can't bear myself. I am not worthy.

What can I do about it?
1 - Reflect on responsibility. Often it is/was not my responsibility or fault! Blaming myself for everything negative that happens is a form of ignorance and self-centeredness. Of course, if I am careless and intended to cause problems, then I should take responsibility for my action and see to it that I will not repeat this regrettable action. Instead, maybe I can do something to make up for it.

2 - Reflect on motivation. An act done with positive intention and without self-interest is not negative, although other people may be harmed by it. The suffering experience of others is strictly speaking the result of their own actions. However, we may have made some mistakes like wrong communication or insufficient attention, etc. If this is the case, it should just be a reason to change our habits by improving our communication or mindfulness.

3 - Changing or accepting. If you can change yourself or the situation, change it! If you can't change yourself or the situation for a good reason, accept it! Not acting where we can and could act can lead to frustration and guilt in the long run; just like acting where we actually cannot do anything.

4 - Analyze the use of feeling guilty.  It is based in the present; it is intelligently concerned with the future effects of your recent actions; and it leads to remedying the damage already done and to caution about repeating such an act.

5 - Forgiving. Making mistakes is an inherent human quality: if you don't make mistakes you are definitely not a normal human being anymore. If we are unable to forgive ourselves, we will never be able to properly forgive others.

6 - Reality check with others. If you can overcome your feelings of guilt and shame somewhat, try to discuss these matters with others and see if your reasons for feeling guilty are really valid.

7 - Emptiness. An ultimate cure for all delusions, realizing emptiness will also rid our mind of guilt.

In summary, try to transform the lack of self-confidence, ignorance and mental paralysis with repentence, purification, forgiving yourself, love and compassion for yourself, openness, reality check with others, and wisdom into positive action, fearlessness, and self-confidence. Believe it or not, this is based on Buddhism! They don't believe there is such a feeling or emotion as guilt. So this is how they explain the human experience of guilt and repentence.  For Buddhists, they believe that guilt has such a prominent place because of the Judeo/Christian background of our culture. The concept of being born onto the earth with "original sin" - for which you personally are not even responsible - easily puts a feeling of guilt in your minds (I am bad, even without doing anything wrong). Furthermore, the presentations in several Christian traditions can give you the impression that you should feel guilty and ashamed. I believe that this type of guilt is a socially learned emotion. Tibetans do not even have a word for it! If that is correct, it is not even a basic human emotion, but a culturally -  imposed type of mental frustration; which means that you can relatively easily overcome it by un-learning this artificial emotion.

Are You an Advocate for Your Own Health?

 

For our new Masquerade of Words (Spondylitis Blog Carnival)'s (MOWer's) our first blog topic has been chosen...the first is "The Definition of a Health Activist."  This is an extrememly interesting topic for me because I am not only a patient with multiple illnesses, many medications, who has had numerous surgeries, but I am also an RN. I have been on both sides of the hospital bed, if you will. I have been the one providing the care and also the one receiving the care. I have been advocating for myself and advocating for all my patients. It is extremely important that you advocate for yourself because you cannot always count on the fact that others will advocate for you. If you have a close friend or family member who will also be a patient advocate for you, then that is even better. And of course, if you are lucky enough to have your physicians and healthcare providers also as your advocates, then you are one of the exceptions!!!!

The most important thing to remember when faced with a health crisis is to be an active part of your healthcare team.  All decisions must be made WITH you not FOR you! You must educate yourself about your illness and all your treatment options. By being an active member of your healthcare team, you are sure to see results and improve.  Begin by researching your illness so that you begin to understand what is wrong with you. One excellent site to begin is www.nih.gov (National Institute of Health). That site will also link to other equally helpful sites.  Remember that there is no one treatment that is right or that works for everyone. Every person is different and unique with equally different and unique needs, beliefs, cultures and spiritual values. 

There are several important factors to be considered when being a healthcare or patient advocate for yourself.  Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it can save your life!  Just as you may shop around to buy a house or a car, use that same spirit of inquiry to find your own medical care.  Ask questions and investigate!  Always, always, always seek out a second or even a third opinion.  A good doctor or healthcare provider will welcome your research.  Do your research carefully and choose your doctors ad healthcare providers wisely. There are many people who love and care about you.  You are very important to many, many people. Keep that in mind, when you think you do not want to do all the work involved.

Also, keep in mind that doctors and healthcare providers are human, and humans make mistakes. Do a background search on the hospital as well as the physicians you choose. You can contact your state's Board of Medicine/Medical Examiners for information on the physician at www.fsmb.org/directory_smb.html.  You can compare the quality ratings of the hospitals at www.ConsumerHealthRatings.com as well at www.HealthGrades.com, which are both independent sites.  I recommend, if possible, to choose a hospital that specializes in the care of whatever your particular condition is.

A federal regulatory body that governs all healthcare institutions which accepts federal funds--The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO)--along with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services started a national campaign to help

patients advocate for themselves and prevent medical errors: The Speak Up Initiative.

The Speak Up program encourages people to: 1. Speak up if your have questions or concerns. If you still don’t understand, ask again.  It’s your body, and you have a right to know.  2. Pay attention to the care you get.  Always make sure you’re getting the right treatments and medicines by the correct healthcare professionals. Don’t assume anything.  3. Educate yourself about your illness.  Learn about the medical tests you get.  Learn your treatment options and ask about your treatment plan.  4. Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your Advocate (advisor or supporter).  5. Know what medicines you take and why you take them.  Medication errors are the most common healthcare mistakes. (A wonderful resource to learn about your meds is www.rxlist.com. Learn this site and tell others). 6. Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center or other healthcare institution that has met federal guidelines. Ask about their Joint Commission rating on their quality standards.  7. Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of your healthcare team!

Remember, it is your right to refuse treatment until you understand what is happening.

Watch for the simple things like hand washing.  All healthcare workers must wash their hands before working with you. Stethoscopes should be washed as well. Ask your nurse to identify all medications before you take them. Have your doctor clearly mark the site of your upcoming surgery.  This is really important as mistakes are made every day. When you have a healthcare issue, your illness is too complex or the system is too confusing make sure you have someone who can help you through all the confusion. 

Remember to protect your rights and safety, educate yourself and advocate for yourself with all your medical providers. I wish you the best of health and will assist you in any way I can in your healthcare journey.

Be safe….ask questions!