May 15, 2017

Hi friends! It's been awhile since my last update and so much has happened --- it seems fitting to update on Mother's Day since my two little angels are the biggest motivation for my ferocity.

I had a hernia scare a few weeks ago ---- sneezed and felt a painful "pop" and then another a few moments later. That wasn't my favorite moment. In that split second I immediately felt my heart sink and all my positivity fall. I felt like UGH--- the Mona Lisa has just been defaced. Though a relatively minor ailment - a hernia FOR ME at this point in my journey would immediately derail all my hopes of returning to exercise, a more active lifestyle with my family, certain foods, of my forward motion.....

Alas, over the course of a week the inflammation seemed to reduce along with the pain and my incredibly attentive RN husband felt like it must've been muscle or scar tissue. I'm in that camp now too. But I will know for sure later this week at clinic.

Weight wise --- finally broke 100!! Yay! That was quite the celebration in our house. Now if you know me....you'll appreciate the irony of celebrating GAINING weight!!! 😏. Biggest benefit of that is I can show the surgical transplant team that my body CAN and IS gaining weight. It means my absorption is improved; my digestion is working; my body is RESPONDING to its new construction. All good things.

Activity wise --- eh. Not seeing much improvement there yet. I am still wearing the binder (supposed to be able to stop at 3month postop which is next week) and I do NOT feel my body is even close to being ready to fend for itself --- especially given aforementioned hernia scare. So..... we will consult the team this week. I'd REALLY like to start yoga so fingers crossed.

Diet wise --- ate some baked haddock last week!! Woot woot! Just a little. But man was it delicious!!! And IT WENT WELL! So....plan to advance my diet even more after we return from clinic this week.

Had a weird little intestinal episode last week --- actually kinda worried me that things were strictured again --- but it seems to have remediated itself or not been what it felt like in the first place. I guess I'm still not "over" the trauma of my medical history. I'm fierce but human.... I'll get there. Just keep swimming, right!? 😉

Emotionally ---- still fierce. Still positive. Still grateful to God for leading me to Dr Kareem Abu-Elmagd and his brilliant team at Cleveland Clinic. Dr K told me while in the hospital that he and his team (specifically the brilliant Dr Costa!) repositioned my anatomy the way God intended and now it was in His hands. Dr K and Dr C are humble.... they didn't just reposition things; they gave me a second chance at LIFE. Prior to deciding to have surgery my primary care said the condition I had and the way I was managing said condition "wasn't sustainable long term." It was only a matter of time before the worst would happen. Dr K and Dr C shifted that pendulum swing. No! They didn't just shift it----they reweighted it in my favor. And truthfully for that I will forever be grateful. I have said to them both that I'm not sure how the universe led me to be in their care, but I certainly was beyond blessed to have found them!

Thanks, too, to my fierce family and friends. Would not be here without you all!!!

I know this update is long, but I wanted to share the good, the not so good and the HOPE. Most of all the HOPE!!!! It's a powerful thing - hope -

Thanks for reading! 💜