In 2009, our friends were hiking Mt. Lassen when their lives changed forever. Their kids were sitting on a rock wall when it collapsed, rolling down the hill, taking the kids with them. Their eldest daughter was seriously injured and a helicopter was called to fly her off the mountain. As they were waiting, their…
Never Give Up on Your Dreams
I saw this post this morning and it sure hit home! Digging my way through sickness has been so hard at times that I’ve wanted to just stop fighting. But what does that mean? Do I just lay in bed and whither away? Would that be easier? No - I’d still be sick! I’d still…
More Diagnosis’ and Treatment
I have days where I think “this is it - this is as good as it’s gonna get”. Usually this thought creeps in when doctors don’t know what to do and they don’t have anything new for me to try. Man that can be a depressing thought. This. Is. It. And then suddenly, something comes…
The Side Conditions
Co-conditions, accompanying illness, whatever you call them - sometimes the side conditions have more of an impact than the primary conditions. We call it Lyme disease - but that’s not my problem. I sometimes wonder how much the bacteria that causes Lyme is even a factor. My biggest problems right now are spine instability and…
“You’re Not Going to Get Better by Letting It Beat You”
Josh Blue has cerebral palsy and is one of the funniest comedians I’ve ever seen. He was on AGT this year and during the finale, he shared that he is in phenomenal pain. You’re not going to get better by letting it beat you.Josh Blue Oh how I relate to this so much!!! There are…
Anything Mentionable is Manageable
I want to tell everyone what I know about Lyme and other tick diseases. There’s a very fine line between being transparent and being overwhelming. Human frailty - sickness, death, even emotions - can be hard to talk about. It requires vulnerability. It taken me 52 years to learn that being vulnerable isn’t a bad…
“Accept Who You Are” ~Jersey Girl
It’s ridiculous that a quote in a somewhat off-color (and awkwardly romantic) movie can be the very thing I need to hear. Forget about who you thought you were and just accept who you are.Maya, Jersey Girl I talk a lot about who I used to be...how I used to live...what I used to do.…
“You Don’t Throw A Whole Life Away Just Because It’s a Little Banged Up” ~Seabiscuit’s Trainer
This is the theme of the movie about Seabiscuit. A broken down owner, trainer, jockey and horse all come together to created the perfect team. I tell ya, it’s been a hard thing to find my balance with this thing called Lyme. It’s hard to figure out how to live with this mess of a…
Lyme & Tick Disease in Tehama County
Contrary to what local medical professionals believe, Lyme disease is highly active in Tehama County and California. I was bitten by two ticks during June of 2006. I know to watch for a bullseye rash - which never came. Whew! A few days later, tho, I developed a horrible respiratory infection, followed over the next…
Gettin Real Is Really Hard
I’ve been stuck. It seems like I start a new protocol, I do ok for a month or two, and then I crash (headaches, high pain, high hr, short of breath, cognitive issues like word finding and short term memory, digestive, rashes, etc etc - you name it, I get it. Most of the time…
PhilippiJoy 