20 life lessons I have learned over the course of the last decade. In the last 10 years, I have been through it all. I have learned closely and painfully how precious life is. I have learned that life isn’t easy when you are healthy and is much more difficult with a chronic illness but following Christ allows you to see the lit path before you. Today, 10 years ago, I went states away following the lit path to have a surgery that was my only hope outside of christ performing a miracle. 10 years later to the day I look back to see that that surgery was my miracle. This was also a life event that changed everything about who I am, who I am going forward, who my friends and family are to me. and now we are a decade out. chronically ill, total pancreatectomy with auto islet cell transplant, pancreatitis, type 3c diabetes, diabetic life, chronic pain, neuropathic, neuropathy, migraine, narcolepsy, cataplexy, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, anxiety, depression, splenectomy, appendectomy, surgery, hospitals, doctors, ready to be heard, feelings are validated, validation of pain, friend who understand , family understands

Event planning is one of my all time favorite passions and hobbies. This is how I planned my best friend baby’s shower and this is when I realized that event planning is something that i love. I love the details, I love the meaning, I love that it makes someone feel loved and cared for. I didn’t realize that event planning was such a labor of love and once I did it myself; I cant go back.

Never stop learning because there is so much to see and experience in the world. Whether you study plants, animals, travel, finances, it doesnt matter its always good for us to explore new things and learn how they fit into our lives. By learning these new things we are able to connect them with knowledge we currently have and grow on it. This is how we improve the world and respect others and how their knowledge makes them special.

Clear liquid diets are usually given to people to do about 24-48 hours before a procedure. A clear liquid diet can be prescribed for things like scans, blood work, imaging, endoscopy, colonoscopy, or prepping for surgery. All of these require figuring out how to manage hunger & appetite while eating only clear liquids. This is the most helpful and in-depth explanation! 

My husband is someone who is always on the go. He loves having projects. He loves exploring the world around him. He loves building and creating things. He likes to be working on projects bt with my health I often cant keep up. I wanted to share my tips and tricks to meet in the middle so that you and your partner can still spend time together. Supporting each others hobbies and activities is important and vital to a successful relationship.

When I became chronically ill something changed that I never expected. It was how I planned my life. Not in the way you may be thinking in the sense of what I want to do and how to do it. It changed in the sense of how I planned trips and events. I had to plan rest days. I didn’t used to have to plan for my body to be unable to function for days after a trip or event. I eventually started calling it my 3-5 business day recovery plan. I thought I would share this with you in hopes that you and your loved ones may be able to understand each other better. As well as, maybe gibing you a new tip or trick to make life more manageable so you can feel like you are thriving not simply surviving.

I am tired. Tired means so many things. It can mean I need a nap, it can mean im worn out from that specific thing, it can mean im exhausted from life. When a friend with a chronic illness tells you they are tired; they are telling you they are tired of fighting to live. They are tired of fighting doctors to get the treatment they need a deserve. They are worn out. No one wants to fight as much as we do especially when you feel as sick as we do. It is exhausting. So lately if you ask me how I am… Im just tired.

Twenty six things that I have learned in my twenty six years of life. I wanted to share the things that I learned this past year as well as things that I have known but wish I implemented these things in more.

Finding a Doctor that respect you and listen to you is becoming more and more difficult. I have been able to create a somewhat successful process over the years and I want to share it with you. If this can help one of your appointments go a little better than it is all worth it. I lay out each step and how I go about finding the candidates. I then remind you that this is an interview for them. Doctor’s like to act like they are blessing you with their time but you are paying for them. Make sure you find someone who listens and respects you.

Having any kind of routine is difficult when you are chronically sick and in pain. However, it is important to acknowledge tings that must be done as often as they can to ensure we get the most out of each thing we do. This is how I prepare for bed to do everything I can to get rest for the night.

Cleaning is a way I can help and feel like I have a party to play in our household. It can be hard to find your place when being a full time stay at home wide die to chronic illness. If I was healthy and able to be a stay at home wide I'm sure I would get so much more done and maybe not need these tricks but that is not the case and that is why I am so passionate with sharing my tricks because I don't want others to feel lost or useless. You are perfect the way you are.

What are your life mottos? What statements do you come back to when life is not going right? DON’T WORRY! I am sharing all of my tips and tricks for getting through life as someone who is chronically ill. These blog posts are for everyone though because whether you have a chronic illness or not you have had to face adversity at times. It is hard and it can be awful but hopefully with these tips it cane make life just a little more manageable. Assess, Adapt, Move on or in Michael’s case Overcome!

Flares are inevitable for people with chronic illnesses. We do our best to avoid them but they happen even when we do it all right. THey are usually temporary but that can mean as long as a few days to months. They can also have different levels of severity. This blog post is all about what to say, what to do, what not to say, and what not to do. Its straightforward and honest and I hope it helps!

I had always been told that sleep apnea had a certain criteria that had to be met. You either were overweight, you were older, you had huge boobs, you had other breathing issues, you snored way too much. I didn’t know that it was something that can happen to anyone and those criteria I thought I knew are just a stereotype from the olden days when they didnt know what sleep apnea really was. Come alone with me as a 25 year old figures out what the world of sleep apnea is like and how to survive it.

There are people out there who struggle with how they present christianity. I think that a lot of the times it is because they are scared that they have to keep everyone doing the right thing and they take it too far. This is much like the pharisees back in Jesus’ day. It causes more hurt than it does help. My point is that all of us must trust God enough to let Him be in control of others and not us trying to make sure we keep people in the box of safety.

Chronic illness diagnosis story. It took a long time to be diagnosed but once I was I began a huge rollercoaster of hospital stays and surgeries. I was misdiagnosed for years because teenage girls with stomach pain are usually constipated or have acid reflux or an ulcer. It took forever to be diagnosed even though it is familial. I was super sick and so thankful for some answers.