I wake up. I “carefully” select an outfit. It must allow for an easy off/on as well as a top with the ability to allow blood to be drawn. It’s an asynchronous teaching day so I don’t have to worry about wearing work shoes with no show socks. The winning outfit? The one I have …
One year. Yesterday marks one year since I got hurt. One year since I began living with a disability. One year of not always being in control. 2020 was definitely a year for the books by anyone’s measure. I truly am a phoenix rising from the ashes, although I’m not about to go all Ben …
Dr. McIrish says, “Your body, your system was primed for a flight or fight response.” Dr. Moves says, “Your body, your system was primed for a flight or fight response.” Then the specialized physical therapist, Z, says, “Your body, your system was primed for a flight or fight response.” I’m annoyed. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Whatever. …
“Have you had any of the following symptoms?” A finger points to a yellow laminated sign. Nope. I’m good. I lean over so the masked figure behind the the plexiglass can take my temperature. I take the sticker that indicates I have been screened and then make my way down the hall to physical therapy. …
A day passes. My phone pings. I have an email. The notification indicates it is from a doctor. Wait. I have two doctor emails. I’m impressed. I open the first from Dr. McIrish. It is one sentence long……He does not respond at all to my new symptoms. Instead he simply states I should check with …
I wake up. My arms burn from the inside out. Waves of tingling ripple across my face. It is now day 13 of this new nerve pain. I don’t feel well. I caffeinate and slip into the shower. Today warrants a shaving of the legs and a fresh shower. Today I see Dr. McHH. I …
It’s the first Thursday in June. I haven’t had a flare of symptoms in two weeks. Tomorrow is my last day of instruction. Next week will be about closing up the school, cleaning the classroom and desks, and doing grades. I wake up. My lips are tingling. Little electrical shocks shoot out of them. My …
Time passes. Everything is different and everything is the same. I am at home with my family in our new rhythm. The alarm goes off a little later. Dave sits at his IKEA hack workstation in our living room. Someone looks at someone else, they scream. I yell at them to stop. Just stop. I …
I slip into my new daily uniform — workout pants, sports bra, and t-shirt. I examine myself in the mirror. Even if the only people seeing me are my family and the chiropractor, I still need to look presentable. I don’t need to look good, just slightly better than when I rolled out of bed. …
I wake up. My head hurts. No matter what I do, I don’t sleep well. The days have begun to blur together. The kids are downstairs fighting. I look at Dave, still slumbering next to me, and decide to be nice. I will be the one to make the coffee this morning. It’s been 3 …