Chiari Is My Unwelcome House Guest

The past week has been a whirlwind. I’ve had my ups and downs and have been a ball of emotions. Last weekend I had to be taken to the ER due extremely intolerable symptoms due to Chiari and since then have had this week to recover at home from such events. Yes, I do take medication for many of my ongoing symptoms but when the medicine doesn’t do what it’s meant to help with, I progressively feel worse, and that’s when I take a trip to the ER. It’s no fun, it’s tiring and unfortunately I’ve been to my local hospitals ER more than I’d like to admit.

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While at the hospital though, I came to thinking about Chiari and what it means to me. I was thinking of what I can compare it to. I had so many nurses and a doctor come in to see me in my room and had no idea what Chiari nor Syringomyelia was. I don’t blame them though, the lack of knowledge and education on such a rare illness is seen too often, especially in the medical field.

I finally narrowed Chiari to this – that unwelcome house guest.

The one that refuses to leave no matter what signals you throw at it.

The one that has no remorse in overstaying their welcome.

The one that doesn’t shy away from being loud.

It has the worst timing!

It doesn’t care what day of the week it is.

It’s there and it isn’t looking like it has a departure date set.

If you have someone close to you that has chronic pain, lives with Chiari Malformation, Syringomyelia or any other illness, the best thing you can do for them is educate yourself on the matter. It’ll mean more to them then you’ll ever know.

Happy Friday,

A-

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‘I Look To You’

This morning while trying to get somethings done for my social media accounts, I decided to put on some background music. And I decided on this song, ‘I look to you,’ by the late Whitney Houston. I don’t normally work while listening to music, it’s really distracting and I get nothing done. My work area needs to be quiet and in order. But the calling was there, for me to go back to this song, and it lifted me.

I’ve been connecting with others with Chiari and although I’m grateful, it also tends to try to pull me down. On one hand I’m happy there others experiencing what I’m going through, but on the other, it’s incredibly sad to know there are others trying to get through their day with chronic pain.

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I get asked a few questions when someone realizes my diagnosis, and one that always sticks out is, ‘how do you do it?’ I understand because it’s almost dumbfounding to see this mother of six living with chronic pain. And there is no one answer, there is no perfect answer, actually there is no answer other than Him. He gets me out of bed when my body isn’t able to, He reminds me I am loved when I feel I’m a failure, He helps me take the steps when I’m in too much pain to walk, He holds my head when I feel it’s going to explode in pain, He helps me care for my children when I feel too ill, He reminds me to take my medication because He knows how much I dislike them, it’s Him, that’s how I do it – daily.

If you’ve never heard this song – or haven’t heard it in a while, I invite you to listen. It’s an amazing song, full of hope, because what you’re going through today you will get through by looking up to Him.

My favorite verse in the song, ‘After all my strength is gone, In you I can be strong.’ 

I Look to You

As I lay me down
Heaven hear me now
I’m lost without a cause
After giving it my all

Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun
After all that I’ve been through
Who on earth can I turn to

I look to you
I look to you

After all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you

Yeah

And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song

I look to you

After losing my breath
There’s no more fighting left
Sinking to rise no more
Searching for that open door

And every road that I’ve taken
Led to my regret
And I don’t know if I’m gonna make it
Nothing to do but lift my head

I look to you
I look to you

Yeah

And when all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you

Oh yeah

And when melodies are gone
In you…

A-

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Reblog Wednesday: My story — God’s Whispers of Truth

In my short blogging journey I can say, that I’ve come across some great people here on WordPress – phenomenal! These individuals are going through their own struggles yet still find a way to find strength and continue to find the light through the chaos that life can sometimes be. This is where today’s share comes in, I want you to meet Vivian, a fellow blogger, a sweet mama of four, wife and warrior fighting TBI – traumatic brain injury. I share her story in hopes that it allows you to know that what you’re going through today, you will get through because of Him.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

When I was diagnosed with Chiari , I can’t tell you I didn’t feel alone, I can’t tell you I didn’t feel scared and I can’t tell you I felt hopeless. But with time, things became clear and I became aware that through my diagnosis God has been helping me, helping me with patience and helping me accept myself, as I am – illness and all. He’s ahead of it all, ahead of any diagnosis and ahead of the plans He has for me.

A-

Welcome, my name is Vivian and I’m a TBI warrior, homeschooling mom of four and wife to a great and hard-working man. As a Christian walking through the valley of brain injury and recovery, I can not stress enough how much the power of God’s strength has held me up and given me courage and […]

via My story — God’s Whispers of Truth

Do you love pastel colors, take a look at my latest YouTube video for more of this nail tutorial.