Updates, Lots of Updates

Well I got out of the hosptial. Still can't stand being in that place. One would think they would provide isolation patients with a better view of the outside instead of the outer wall of another building. Had some issues with the stay, but they were resolved before I had to roll any heads.

The day I ended IV meds my dog got bit by a rattlesnake, so we spent several hours in the vet clinic. They pumped the little guy full of steroids, pain killers, and anti-histamine. Then I had to okay the vet using anti venom. Drained my entire emergency account. The vet did his best, and I could tell by looking at his face that he was sending my dog home to die. That was June 30. My dog is currently laying stretched out on the floor fast asleep. He had a long day running at the family ranch.

So what did I do that the Vet didn't? I don't know. My dog was scared. He was so doped up that he should have fallen asleep at the clinic but he fought it. When I brought him home, I slept on the couch with him. I had a syringe and a glass of water. Every hour I put that syringe in his mouth and forced water down his throat. I crushed up his meds and mixed it in baby food, put all that in the syringe and again force it all down his throat. And I prayed. Praying is usually a good thing to do when you're in a pickle. I knew my dog had a slim chance of survival, and if he did survive he would lose his leg. I didn't sit there trying to make deals with God ("If you save him, I'll go to church every Sunday", or "I'll donate so much to the needy"). I just asked that he save my dog. I told him that I would rather a three legged living dog than a four legged dead one.

The next morning, I looked into my dog's eyes and saw him (they had this dead look all night). His eyes were all lit up and he had to pee. He even tried walking on his leg. The vet was amazed by the transformation. My dog was able to keep his leg. There was very little tissue damage. He's back to his favorite activities.

Should keep in mind that my dog is only 18 pounds. A full grown rattle snake can kill a dog his size. The vet suspects that it was a baby that bit my dog (they are more toxic than adults). I could claim that my dog survived because he was in excellent health when he was bit, or that I give him a good diet. I believe my dog surviving is nothing short of a miracle. Usually two vials of anti-venom are used for a dog his size (the vet only had one vial left so that's all that was used). My mom had come home early that day and my dog was bit three minutes later. My dog didn't go run and hide in fear after the bite (instinct is to hide), he came straight to me. The nearest vet was 30 minutes away and the only road there had construction going on and a long wait, the day we went through for some reason there was no construction so we sped on by. Everything working out the way it did was no coinsidence.

After my dog received a clean bill of health from the vet, the AC went out at my house so I headed over to the family ranch. I will have to say that this was a good thing. After the bite my dog has been afraid to be outside by himself. Where I live there are no shade trees so I can't be outside for long periods of time. At the ranch there is plenty of shade and no rattle snakes. So I've been working with my dog, getting him to enjoy being outside without me again. He's making a lot of progress. He'll go down to the pond by himself now.

While here at the ranch, my family threw a surprise party for my 30th birthday. It was fun. The theme was Over the Hill (family tradition when you turn 30). I loved it. I had skulls on my cake.

Wednesday I had another appointment with the transplant team. Still too soon for a transplant. I wonder how sick they want a person to be first.

I can honestly say that my life has not been boring as of late. I really need a vacation. Am looking forward to a camping trip on the coast next month. I plan on being lazy on that trip.

If You Tell a CFer No

Are we still in the dark ages? I just received an email suggesting that a certain group activity isn't a good fit for me because of my "delicate condition." Since when is Cystic Fibrosis a delicate condition? To top it off, it's a Christian based group telling me I can't do the activity. I hardly call that being Godly. People never cease to surprise me.


When I heard about the activity, I made a request for certain accomodations so that I can participate. The accomodations are not that demanding and required little effort outside of me providing. I was just asking permission to bring what I needed. My request was not approved. And then I get an email giving a story about someone who knew when they weren't a good fit. I was pretty appalled by the email. I've participated in the particular activity all my life with family and other groups. So feeling like I'm being told that I can't go because of my "delicate condition" (I'm serious, the email referred to my CF as a delicate condition) is ridiculous.

And because it's a religious group, I'm not sure of my rights. The group is run by a larger religious group that employs people and runs a couple of businesses that I know of, so they do fall under employment rights of disabled people. But what about other rights for people with disabilities? And it's a Christian organization. Strictly because of biblical teaching, no one should be excluded from anything due to their disability, race, sex, worldly status.  As you can tell I'm not very happy at the moment. I'm not even sure how I approach this.

The last time someone told me I couldn't do something was when I decided to study Genetics. And you know how that turned out. I proved them wrong and got my degree, in Genetics. I may only have 30% lung function, but I camp, I swim, I fish, I boat, I've been to Europe and Mexico, I drive a tractor, I bottlefeed orphaned ranch animals, and I write. You don't tell me no.

If it weren't for the fact that I actually have some responsibilities in the group, I would say screw it and find a new group that didn't use people's limitations as a means of exclusion.

In Lock Up: Again

In the hospital again. Since my internet access is limited, I won't be able to post a full update till I get out. Hopefully that will be by next weekend.

Friday's Post

Sorry for not posting Friday. Internet was on the fritz. I suppose that means you get two posts this week, weather permitting. Basically whenever the weather gets crazy (snow, rain, wind) I lose internet. The joys of living in the mountains I guess. This weather is not typical for a California May. By now I usually have a nice tan going and have the best swimming spots picked out. With all the rain and cold, I haven't set foot in a body of water yet. And we don't get tornadoes that touch down. Wednesday, four touched down in my county. Luckily, no one was hurt. A lot of property damage but that can be fixed.

Not much news in the CF world. May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month so on weekends various cities have been holding Great Strides events. No miracle drugs on the market yet. Various drugs in the trial stages, but that doesn't mean they'll make on the market. So it's keep your fingers crossed and hope that something pans out.

I still haven't been listed for a transplant. I'm not sure how much worse the transplant center wants me to be before I can be listed.  I go back in July to see if there's any change. This part of waiting is frustrating. I'm too sick to hold a job. My day is spent doing treatments and therapy. Sometimes it feels like I don't have a life.

I have found ways to keep busy. I preview movies for the monthly movie night with my bible study group. I sew, I write. I experiment with cooking. And I read. So at least I'm not sitting around all day feeling sorry for myself. I just get bored sometimes. I think that's the only time I miss living in the city. I enjoy the quiet of the mountains and the fresh air. But since I don't have a car, I can't go anywhere when I'm bored. In the city I can hop on a bus and go somewhere else for a change in scenery.

Maybe I should take up gardening.

I'm Famous!!!!!

Most of my readers know that I don't post a lot of personal information. If it isn't about CF or any of my other blog subjects I don't write about it. A couple of months ago my dad and I agreed to have an article written (to see if there was an audience for a book). I'm not saying that it is taking off like wildfire, but there seems to be some interest in the story. There's even a picture of me and my dad at the bottom. Pretty cool. Guess I should start writing the novel.

So Sorry for Being MIA

The title about sums it up. I was planning on taking a month off during summer time so I could finish school, but things went out of control. There were family issues, hospitalizations, family in the hospital, more hospitalizations, more family issues. It has been one crazy train wreck.

I did manage to finish my degree (picture to come soon). It's the most expensive piece of paper I own.  I am hoping for a calm May so I can catch up on all my blogging. Lots of ideas.

I wish I could say that with my degree came a snazzy job, but as of right now I really can't work. Hospitalizations are occurring each month. When I'm lucky I get two months out of my prison cell.  One would think that I would have plenty of time to write. This seems to be a challenge since no one wants to lug my computer back and forth during my hospital stays. I guess it's a sign that I should get something lighter, unfortunately that requires funds I do not have. I am thinking of just taking pen to paper and typing everything up when I get home.

You will be getting my random thoughts after the fact, but at least I wouldn't be MIA for such a long period of time.  It's just a thought.

To top off all the craziness that's been occurring at home and with my health, I also lead a movie night for unmarried Christians. It's a once a month event. I preview a selected movie and write up discussion questions. Just trying to get people to think about what they watch. I'm all for a good comedy, or action movie, but a lot of movies out there have no real plot to go by. And I still find swearing very trashy.

I have thought about posting the movie titles and questions on here if anyone wants to have his/her own discussion on the topic. I'm just not sure if that's the direction I want this blog to go in. Maybe I'll post it on Book Keeper's Attic. I've been wanting to do a media section on there. Mostly, was planning on ranting and comparing movies to books.

Anyways. I am back. Hopefully for good this time. That way you guys can look forward to my weekly postings about my fight to inhale for a long time to come.

September is Here

It's September.  Everyone has started back in school, and even here in CA we got a respite from the heat.  Not sure how long it will last, but it's nice.  While everyone is going back to school, I am at home trying to get my writing muscles in shape after a few months unplanned hiatus.  We will see how that goes.  Maybe in a couple of years you'll find me in the best sellers list.

My niece celebrated her second birthday yesterday.  She is growing so fast.  I still have a framed photo of the the first time I held her perched on a shelf in my library.  Now she's running and learning new words rapidly.  I'm excited about what the future holds for her, and pray each day that I get to live to see her grow up.

I must say the party was great.  My brother in law is great when it comes to preparing food and his daughter's birthday was no exception.  The cake was a cool creation by a family friend (she owns a cake business in town).  My niece was showered with gifts.  I have to say that there was a nice balance between toys and clothes.  Of course her final gift (provided by my mother) was the star according to my niece.  My mom had found a bicycle that was my niece's size.  The little girl wanted to test it out as soon as she saw it. 

When I finally got home, I took a three hour nap.  I guess the heat of the day got more to me than I thought.  I miss the days when weather really didn't bother me.  And if I did get hot, the hose was enough to provide relief.

For the rest of my Labor Day Weekend, I plan on staying home and possibly vegging on sci fi movies.  Haven't done that in a while and I'm in a Stephen King mood.  If tomorrow is cool enough I might even treat Mick to a walk in the park.  If there's mud, he'll be one happy puppy.