It has been a VERY long time since I posted a blog update on my life. It's been a crazy year, and I suppose it's time to bring everybody up to speed. So, here are what's happened since I last posted.
My aunt, who had been battling cancer for several years moved in with us in 2017. Sadly, she passed away in December of 2018. We held a memorial for her at our church with friends and family in attendance. She was brave and battled her cancer for many years, and even until the very last days, she was a trooper. She was one of the most courageous women I've ever met. I didn't know her long, but she was an unforgettable woman. She will be remembered for a very very long time.
Mum was diagnosed in May of this year with cancer, and has had two surgeries to remove cancerous growths in her abdomen. They have found four of her lymph nodes are cancerous as well, so she will have to undergo chemo after she's recovered from surgery. The doctors are planning to completely eradicate the cancer, so the prognosis for her is good, but she has a long road ahead. Her cheerful attitude makes her a delight to be around, and I wish I could be half as cheerful as she is. She spent a great deal of time in the hospital recovering from the surgeries as well as dealing with surgery complications, so we are very glad she is back home and recovering well. We are so grateful to GOD that HE has undeniably guided this process. HIS hand has been in it from the beginning, and we trust that HE will see it to the end.
Dad's MS seems to be at a halt at this point, with little to no progression of the disease, so it may be done progressing. Autoimmune things that start before middle age just sometimes stop for no reason when people reach their mid 50s-early 60s. This seems to be what is happening with Dad, and we are SO grateful for this. He has been able to go off some dangerous medications that were holding the MS in check, he's been able to decrease pain meds, and he's having many more good days than bad. We praise GOD for this reprieve.
I have been diagnosed with non-epileptic seizures, which is why I shake so much. Apparently, I have not processed stress in an appropriate way, and it has caused stressed based seizures, so I have been learning to deal with my stress in a more appropriate way. Just in case anyone was wondering, pretending you're not stressed out is not an appropriate way to deal with stress. That's why I shake. Don't follow my example, use me as a warning. Deal with your stress. Pray, journal, talk about it, give it to the LORD, but don't pretend it doesn't exist. Believe me, the consequences of not dealing with it are far more unpleasant than actually writing out your problems, praying about them, and facing them. Running from them gives them a chance to catch up to you in VERY unpleasant ways.
As always, asthma and allergies continue to be a problem. I am still searching for a medication that clears up my lungs enough to walk around during the summer without a mask. Hopefully I'll have something in the next month that works. It'd be nice to be able to go outside and pick flowers or take photos again. I've actually begun dreaming at night about going out and picking flowers and hang drying them. I REALLY miss going outside in the summer. I used to be outside all the time, walking to the library, or going places on my bike. Being stuck inside all spring and summer is...difficult. The world is so beautiful, and I feel like I'm missing it. At least I have my autumns.
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