I have to tell a bit about last year...I'm sure those of you who know me well get tired of hearing about it, but I was very ill last year. I went to a church Young Women Camp June 2011. I had a GREAT time! Here's a snapshot
I was blessed to be a leader to about 15 teenage girls! I know, quite a job. But, the spirit of these girls was amazing! I learned so much. I love how much you can see these girls grow spiritually after a week with less provisions than we are use to living with. Thankfully, we still have running water...real toilets and real showers! So, we are not TOTALLY deprived!!
Anyway, we got back from camp on a Saturday afternoon. Went to church on Sunday. Worked out on Monday. Was sicker than a dog on Tuesday!!! I thought maybe I had gotten sick from the ONE tick I pulled off my belly while at camp. Thought maybe it was a 24 hour flu bug. BUT, when I woke up Wednesday and was still throwing up and SUPER dizzy, I had a friend drive me to the doctor. Little did I know that the scariest experience of my life was before me.
The doctor sent me to the Emergency Room. I decided I would go to the one closest to my house. (a smaller campus) The doctor did not lead me to believe that I was as sick as I was (either that, or I just don't remember...I was pretty out of it.) When I got to the ER, my blood pressure was only 60/40, I was barely alive. I was running a really high fever, and couldn't keep anything down. I hadn't eaten since Monday night. They immediately began running a BUNCH of tests. They tried to get a spinal tap...I was so dehydrated that they couldn't get it. In the meantime, Andy was on his way home from Manhattan, KS once he found out the doctor sent me to the ER. My friend Debbie was SO fantastic in taking care of me that day! I am SUPER blessed to have her as my friend. The ER decided to admit me, so I rode the ambulance that day. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, by the way. Anyhow, once I got there, they proceeded to put a pic line in my neck and fed 5 different IV lines into me. They pumped TONS of fluid into me before the day ended. So many I can't even remember. In the beginning I was on 7 different anti-biotics. After they ruled out a certain infection, they would eliminate antibiotics one at a time. They were certain it was Toxic Shock Syndrome. I could not understand that, because I had always been careful. I knew how dangerous that could be. I was still convinced it was Lymes Disease. In fact, Lymes Disease and Toxic Shock Syndrome were the last two infections I was receiving antibiotics for by the last two days of my hospital stay. (This is a long story...sorry...but it's for my journaling, as well).
My poor husband, was not sleeping well. I was truly starting to feel better. So, on my third or fourth night there, he was not feeling great and not sleeping great, so I told him to go home. I was more alert that day, not sleeping as much, and really felt that I would be okay by myself. About 5am, I started having horrible pain in my chest. It felt like heart burn. And since I hadn't eaten for 3-4 days, I was sure the stomach acid in my body was causing the pain. Well, thanks to a nurse taking GREAT care of me, we found out that I was probably having a heart attack because of the infection. I had EKGs done a couple times. I was still running a fever, but the cardiologist was called and felt that an angiogram should be done. No blockages, and the heart was well. But, the infection had cause some damage (about 5% damage, between my heart and my lungs). SCARY!!! I was SO worried. I cried. A LOT!!! But after the angiogram, whatever they used to put me under, let me sleep really well. When I woke up from that, I felt SO much better. Shortly after, I was moved out of ICU. I was so grateful for that, because I knew that meant I was on the mend. On June 26, I got to go home. I was still very week. AND from laying on my back for so long, my lungs were weak, and I had a dry cough for quite some time after. I left the hospital still not knowing what caused me to be so ill. I had an infecious disease specialist follow up appointment two weeks after I got out though. When I went there, I found out it was an intestinal strain of Toxic Shock Syndrome. This was very scary. Because the survival rate for people who get TSS is only 40%. It was obvious to me that Heavenly Father still had work for me to do!
WHEW!!! Long story finished.
After that, I had a month to recover before going to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation Conference in Salt Lake City, UT. It was a fantastic trip. Here are a few photos. We enjoyed the falls! They were beautiful.
We went to the Salt Lake. Boy, it was stinky. Dead birds all over the place. But, I had never been there, so I had to go see what it was all about.
Andy and I had a very enjoyable time. It totally was a refreshing experience that was VERY needed. I truly don't think our children felt the same way. Zoie and Baylee were very disturbed, as they had just been without me for quite a time the month before. We were able to enjoy our drive through the mountains. And enjoy beautiful weather. While we were in Utah, it was 114 in Wichita, KS. Needless to say, we were not missing that!
A month later. I was back in the hospital. Gall bladder this time. CRAZY!! To me, it felt like a heart attack, which is what caused us to go in in the first place. So, we got that sucker taken out so I didn't have to worry about that feeling ever again!!
After that, life smoothed out quite a bit. It was quite funny, I was asked to give a talk in church on adversity shortly after all my episodes. I really can't for the life of me figure out why they asked me to give that talk! (LOL!!)
A couple months later I was asked to be the Relief Society President of the Rolling Hills Ward. This is a big assignment. But, I was thrilled to do it. You see, the people who took care of me most while I was going through both of my ordeals, were the very Relief Society Sisters that I now serve. I love them so very much! I am grateful for this experience. It allows me to dive into my scripture studies more often (because I am not great at doing this on my own. This prods me along a little). It also gives me the opportunites to serve others. My Heavenly Father knows me SO well! He knew exactly what I needed.
The year finished out great! Ya know, all the holidays and good food. SO great, that I have now gained back about half the weight I lost. UGH!! Time to get back to work. So, in order to motivate me more, I'm going to try to do my weekly weigh in on here again. That is if I can keep up my blogging.
I leave you with this past Angelman Syndrome Walk photo of my family. My reason for living!
