Jeez. Once you start going, you're never able to stop! There's never enough time in a day. So much for Friday Harbor Stories...maybe I can integrate them into my coming blogs.
Today, Danny and I had to wake up at 5:30am to head out for my 9:00am doctor's appointment at the UW in Seattle. I'm starting back up with speech therapy. Since I will be needing radiation therapy, chemo, and multiple craniotomies in my life, I figured I needed to learn some tricks to keep my mind alert, and tricks regarding speech and cognitive stuff. I know that there are going to be times in my life when I will have to relearn many things, and the better I prepare myself the easier my life will be in the future (and easier for Danny, my mom, my dad, my bro, and anyone else that comes into contact with me). I've always a been the kind of girl that does the dishes before bed because I hate waking up to a mess - same concept, it's just regarding my brain.
Random story, I remember having to relearn brushing my teeth. The paste had been squished onto the head of the toothbrush, and I reached over and grabbed it. I then started poking the outside of my cheek with the handled end of the brush. It was bizarre. I knew something was odd, but I couldn't figure out what was wrong. That's only one story, there's a multitude of stories, and there's no guarantee that the next surgeries won't be the same situation, or even worse. I'm not trying to say that to scare anyone, it's just a reality. I'm not scared, not right now, I might be scared in the future or jeez maybe even tomorrow, but I like to prepare in advance. I'm kind of like the squirrel that has the luxury to invite the neighborhood squirrels over for dinner in the winter. I'd rather be well prepared and be able to share.
Also, by the recommendation from my speech therapist, after this appointment I've got two more doctors to add to my team. I've got a neuro-psychologist and a rehabilitation counselor.
I should be notified in the coming days regarding my new appointments. The first is to asses my cognitive abilities. It will include a battery of tests that takes eight hours. The other doctor is a counselor that deals with patients with what they call "traumatic brain injuries." The second doctor's appointment is basically a one-on-one counseling session. I'm extremely excited for both.
I know that friends, and most of my family, think that I'm back to normal, but the truth is that I have a long way to go (and for the record I'm thrilled that I seem fine - it's a huge compliment!). In fact, I have a long road ahead of me both regarding my current recovery and then with my future health (medically, mentally, and emotionally). The best I can do, is learn tricks to be successful at all stages.
Jul 27, 2010
Jul 26, 2010
Happy Tears
I just returned from Friday Harbor, and it was overwhelmingly amazing! I have so much to say, but since I'm so exhausted, I'm not sure if I'm going be very cohesive. I don't even know where to start. Here goes my best shot.
When I first pulled into the harbor, riding the ferry, I suddenly became extremely emotional. I started to worry that maybe the trip to the island was a mistake. I was intimidated by the thought of running into people, not sure if people would recognize me, or that I would have to do a lot of explaining.
As Danny and I came off the boat, we walked up to the Crab Shack (Danny was drawn in by the smell of the fajitas wafting through the open air market). While we waited for Danny's lunch, I was hiding behind my sun glasses, looking around and hoping that I didn't see anyone I recognized. All of a sudden a familiar face popped around the corner. It was a guy that I went to high school with, panicking, my heart rate jumped through the roof. Instantly, I had a billion thoughts run through my mind, "Does he recognize me?"; "Does he remember who I am?"; "Does he even know that I have a tumor?" But just as quickly as those thoughts flooded through mind they were squashed, because he took off his sun glasses, came straight toward Danny and I, and gave me a huge hug. The first thing that came out of his mouth was, "Holy cow, you just made my day!"
Even though this guy was my age, and we'd grown up together, we hadn't been really close friends. I later learned, from our conversation that it was his 30th birthday. I was completely blown away, that on his birthday he told me that I made his day. It was such a heart warming statement, that was so sincere and kind. It was exactly what I needed. From that moment on I relaxed. I'm so grateful for his kindness, I can't even begin to explain it.
From that first interaction on the island, I knew that it was going to be an emotionally healing weekend. Driving through town, as we went to the house, I gave what would be the last cry of the weekend. It was happy tears to be home, a place that fills my soul.
When I first pulled into the harbor, riding the ferry, I suddenly became extremely emotional. I started to worry that maybe the trip to the island was a mistake. I was intimidated by the thought of running into people, not sure if people would recognize me, or that I would have to do a lot of explaining.
As Danny and I came off the boat, we walked up to the Crab Shack (Danny was drawn in by the smell of the fajitas wafting through the open air market). While we waited for Danny's lunch, I was hiding behind my sun glasses, looking around and hoping that I didn't see anyone I recognized. All of a sudden a familiar face popped around the corner. It was a guy that I went to high school with, panicking, my heart rate jumped through the roof. Instantly, I had a billion thoughts run through my mind, "Does he recognize me?"; "Does he remember who I am?"; "Does he even know that I have a tumor?" But just as quickly as those thoughts flooded through mind they were squashed, because he took off his sun glasses, came straight toward Danny and I, and gave me a huge hug. The first thing that came out of his mouth was, "Holy cow, you just made my day!"
Even though this guy was my age, and we'd grown up together, we hadn't been really close friends. I later learned, from our conversation that it was his 30th birthday. I was completely blown away, that on his birthday he told me that I made his day. It was such a heart warming statement, that was so sincere and kind. It was exactly what I needed. From that moment on I relaxed. I'm so grateful for his kindness, I can't even begin to explain it.
From that first interaction on the island, I knew that it was going to be an emotionally healing weekend. Driving through town, as we went to the house, I gave what would be the last cry of the weekend. It was happy tears to be home, a place that fills my soul.
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