Change....

One Thursday morning, specifically October 8th,2009. Sitting at my kitchen table cathcing up on facebook, and just stuff to keep my mind busy. doing this all on a 28 inch monitor, to aid me with the visual problems I have had. Mr Reese has always made sure I had what I needed or just had a whim for. Not always a good thing.

On this particular morning Lynn went to have coffee with his guy friends, I encourage him to do so because I know that he is not a stay put couped up in the house kinda guy. I told him I was doing fine and would see him later on. As always he kisses me on the forehead says "Love ya Fred, I'll be back." ..like the terminator..Arnold the Governor..he can be so funny.

As most of you know I have had many health issues, been traipsed off to this Dr for that test, draw blood here, go there for next opinion, start this pill. stop this pill. And thru all of this I honestly thought I was dying, and no one had the guts to tell me. Have had several hospital stays, a couple ambulance rides....so needless to say our home is never calm.

Today is Friday and I am ready to let my extended family know just what is what. My immediate family had a nice supper at Grandma and Grandpa Carty's house, Thursday evening and they were the first to learn all the black and white results.

The final diagnosis is Central Pontine Myelinolysis..........big word huh.....it is a brain injury caused by correcting a low sodium level at to rapid of rate. When this happened all the protective coating on my nerves in the Pons area of the brain was stripped away. This in turn has caused my brain and body to malfunction improperly

When the phone call came in I was home by myself.....I am thankful for that. I needed time to let this all soak in and get a grasp on my feelings.I talked on the phone with the Nurse and Dr, while they explained to me what life was going to be like... that is what I want to share with you now.

This is a permanent injury, very rare does this happen, and there is no cure or fix....however there are life changes that will and have already started.The main changes that I am going to face are as follows

1 my vision will continue to decrease

2 my mobility will continue to decrease..I am mobile with a walker now, but at some point that will become a wheelchair..they have some pretty fancy ones out there I hear...so at some point I get to go shopping

3 my speech will continue to become harder to understand, along with my swallowing ability....some of you may be at a point thinking she won't be able to talk...ALLRIGHTY THEN...let me say this.....I WILL GET MY POINT ACROSS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER......stay positive here with me.

4 I will have chronic to severe pain for the endurance of this...I have already started pain management by wearing a patch...relieving the pain that I have already dealt with is a major improvement...the Dr says this is the main objective..to keep the patient as pain free as possible and still live life to whatever capacity I choose.

AND I HAVE CHOSE TO LIVE MY LIFE HONESTLY AND OPEN WITH A HEART FOR GOD AND MY FAMILY.

I am going to have good days ..some several in a row....and same with the bad......Dr SAYS.....PACE YOURSELF. I can still have black out spells so you no longer have to worry about my driving....that will make several happy I am sure. I am still capable of staying home by myself for now.....that in time will change and we will cross that bridge later.

Soon you will see a ramp being constructed in front of my home.....this was my first request....I have to know that I can get out of this house when and if I need to........

As for my daily activities now......one day at a time...if it is a good day I may just call YOU and say "hey wanna go for a ride" or come over for coffee or tea. On a rough day I may be on the sofa napping ...and this is what i ask of you then....there will be a sign on the door saying "company is welcome come on in"....please wake me...YOU may be the only one I get the opportunity to visit with on that day.....and i don't want to miss out on a good conversation.

If ever I needed ANYONE OF YOU....now is the time.......let me stress this..do not feel sorry for me or have pity......help me to live life as God would want me to live. I NEED YOU TO HELP ME MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO OCCUR.

I AM ONE TOUGH COOKIE...............that weeps on occasion....my memory may slip me from time to time...so I could repeat myself several times or ask the same question more than once.

I have been told and honestly believe that God will take every situation and make good out of it....and sometimes He will take the broken down person from the past to transform something magnificent for the future....to that i say "GOD HERE I AM TO BOW DOWN, I LAY IT AT YOUR FEET.

You may share this with anyone you wish......in a small town gossip can spread like wild fire.....and it is important to me that everyone knows the truth............so that they can prepare themselves for our new adventure.

I love you all, and continue to ask for prayer for my family for God to comfort them , reassure them, and OPEN THE EYES OF THEIR HEART LORD.

IN GOD'S LOVE,

your sister Tammy