All I can do to be strong
Pic by Louis Galvez on Unsplash
I do not even know where to begin. I wish I were a poet or a professional writer so I could explain the last two and a half years of an emotional roller coaster.
Going through the last 28 months (about 2 and a half years) has taken a toll on my physical, emotional, and spiritual being. Like everyone else in 2020 dealing with the uncertainty of Covid and the financial implications of the shutdowns. Having begun the process of losing family and loved ones from Covid at the same time taken precautions to make sure your name was not added to the list of daily death tolls.
We lost a brother and sister-in law (Husband Side of the family) and friend from COVID.
Due to the Covid situation, protest, and the world trying to figure out how to handle all the injustice around the world we postpone our 2020 International TN Awareness Day.
In 2021, I am grateful that we made it through the chaos and look forward to the new normal of getting back to work, but I had no idea it would come with more family death and illness. Lost another brother-in law (Covid), Cousin (Breast Cancer), Friend (Suicide), Friend (Covid). You do not realize how strong you can be until you walk through so much hurt and sadness.
It felt great to get back to work full time to have a sense of normalcy while trying to be emotionally strong and figure out how to support loved one's long distance and staying positive even through all around you is still chaos, and officials are still trying to save people and figure out how to get through the daily unjust and sickness.
We were able to celebrate our 2021 International TN Awareness Day and was looking forward to our 10th anniversary of TN Awareness in 2022!
Welcome to 2022! Work is wonderful and unusual busy, but I enjoy every minute of it because it kept me moving and focus on my day. I was very hopeful for 2022 and had no idea what was coming next.
January, February, and March sent out request for TN Awareness Day and so excited to try to make it the biggest year ever for our 10th anniversary.
In April, my mother was extremely sick, and it just seemed like it was one thing after another, and we did not know what was going on. In May she was rushed to the hospital because she was having a tough time breathing. After weeks in the hospital and many tests she was diagnose with stage one Cancer on top of heart failure and diabetes and internal bleeding. The Doctors also mentioned that she had several mini strokes. How can one person handle so much disruption in one's body. I know my mother is a fighter and she continues to do so. May, my mother is still in the hospital fighting to regain her strength.
Meanwhile I lost a young cousin due to COVID even though she was fully vaccinated but her asthma made it impossible for her to catch her breathe.
June, my mother is out of the hospital. She would not let the Doctors treat her stage one Cancer or do any invasive surgery for her blocked arteries. We would go through June with hospital appointments for every part of her body. Just for them to tell us all they can do is keep her comfortable and manage any type of pain that will come in the weeks, months ahead. I work tirelessly trying to upgrade her insurance and find the right one that will help with her prescriptions. My goodness, talking about a learning curve!
July, all seemed quite and finally had a weekend to myself to catch my breath and just to regroup. (So, I thought).
July my mother was rushed to the hospital. She had a stroke. She is unable to talk except for a few words. (Yes, no, and oh boy) “oh boy” is her favorite words when the Doctors or nurses are moving her from one position to another.
Since my mother cannot speak, I am her voice. I am her daughter and proxy.
Every day after work I am at the hospital. Keeping my family posted on daily activities and diagnoses.
Also, in July my aunt on my father side of the family died battling Cancer. She lived in North Carolina. My other Aunt from Boston who was already ill herself and was dealing with the death of her own daughter from Covid a few months earlier in May went to NC against her Doctors orders died 2 days after her return from her sister's funeral.
August, visiting and working with my mother to help her regain her speech even though Doctors said it could be several months before she fully regains her speech. We are hoping that she will soon go to a rehab center and eventually home.
So here I am today sharing my story with you.
Please say a prayer for my mother to get her through this challenging time.
I will also try my best to send out request for our 2022, 10th anniversary international Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day. It might not be as big as I would like but it will still bring awareness.
Thank you, Kathy Somers, Brenda Sharp and Sarah Heavey for your continued support.
Please bear with me as I catch up with updating TNnME website with the approvals that you acquired.
I would also like to thank my co-worker Maritza Gonzalez for all her help and support. God always put the right people in your path for a reason.
