Overdue Update

Current mood: thankful

Category: Life

It was gracefully pointed out to me recently that it has been over a month since my last update. I am so sorry for that. I am glad to say that it’s because I am doing so well. I would say that at this point if you were to meet me on the street you probably wouldn’t know that I’d had a stroke on Labor Day weekend. The only times I think it’s noticeable is when I’m tired (as I concentrate a little less on making words sound right) and when I get excited (for those of you who know me well, you know I talk super fast when I am excited so I’m putting less effort into saying the words correctly). I’m writing well. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to retrieve the pretty penmanship I had before the stroke, but it’s legible. There is a little grieving there but in the greater scheme of things, penmanship is certainly ok to lose when I think about what I could have lost.

 

One of several good things that has come from all of this is that I’m feeling much less burdened by my anxiety disorder. I don’t know if it is some weird biological side effect or if it’s just the realization that I might not have as much time as I’d like on this earth. Not trying to be depressing but seriously after recovering from the accident in 2005 that put me in a coma and then a stroke in 2008, I have to wonder how much clearer the signs need to be that time on this earth is limited and that we have to make use of every moment of it. This realization, of course, doesn’t mean I no longer have the anxiety disorder. I am just no longer accepting it as the only player in the game. I’ve been pretty excited about what I’ve been able to accomplish. I’m pretty sure it’s made life a little easier on Kelly too. And, man, does he deserve it! That poor guy has been so strong during all of this and I don’t know what I would’ve done without him. Thank goodness I will never have to know.

 

That’s another good thing that has come of all of this. You may or may not know that a while back Kelly proposed and I accepted. But from that point we didn’t really discuss it further. Any number of things would be obstacles.  And we were content just being engaged. Then Labor Day weekend came and went and so did any feelings of “we have all the time in the world.” Apparently it lit a fire under Kelly’s feet and he insisted we do this thing as soon as possible.

 

So we did.

 

Last Thursday, October 30, 2008, we were wed by the Justice of the Peace in the presence of our parents and each of us had a friend there with us. And now I’m a wife (I think that is the weirdest thing for me to accept) and he is a husband. And it is fantastic. I won’t go in to the details of the day in this little blurb but would like to indicate it was one of those days that when you look at it from the “forest” aspect, everything worked out. Each tree, however, well…that’s not important. Everything worked out.

 

And the good news continues…

 

I was going through the mail, which I dread since the crazy hospital bills have been coming in. Not having insurance at the time of the stroke was not ideal. But the hospital had sent me an application for assistance for the hospital portion of the bill. I diligently completed the application which was somewhat difficult as, at the time, writing was requiring quite an effort for me. But ultimately, it was good practice. So I sent it in and have been waiting for the response. And sure enough, it came. They have decided that I qualify for assistance in the amount of 100% of my hospital bill. I wasn’t expecting that at all but can’t say that I’m in any way displeased. I am aware that the doctors’ bills and assorted other tests and whatnot are still my responsibility but knocking out that $16000 bill certainly made my Goliath seem much less intimidating.

 

And I have to point out here that the only reason that this assistance is possible is because of charitable organizations. The hospital isn’t “comping” the bill. Having worked in non-profit basically my entire life, I realize how many individuals it takes to procure funds for such things. It takes a lot of people, people with good hearts and a desire to help. And, that is what warms my heart in the end. Yes, it’s a relief to not have to worry about that bill but better yet I get to be reminded of how many good souls there are out there working to make life better for others. And that’s a comforting thought.

 

So…there’s my update.