The short video below is my theme song for 2015. As I spend time this evening reflecting on 2014, I find myself amazed that my journey with LBD has taken so many turns not related to this disease. Certainly LBD is a disease to be reckoned with in every sense. This year has been complicated by the fact of having multiple surgeries which were unrelated to having LBD. First came the alarming colon rupture which resulted in emergency surgery with a resulting ileostomy to be worn for 90 days. Seventy days into an overactive ileostomy, it decided to rupture. Now comes emergency surgery number 2. By the time I recovered from these 2 surgeries, the end of April had arrived. I was able to bounce back from both of these surgeries rather rapidly with a positive attitude and staying focused on dementia awareness while helping other living with dementia. These things bring great joy to me and provide much benefit to me in living with dementia. During April, I was given 2 cervical epidurals with no benefits achieved and was referred to a neurosurgeon for surgery ASAP. Surgery took place in late May. This was achieved by seeing a neurosurgeon on a Thursday and being told it would be 6 weeks before he had an opening for surgery. He followed that comment by telling me that he knew I was in a lot of pain. Saturday would be Memorial Day, and he was on call. He told me that he would come in on the holiday and do the surgery. To me, that was a miracle happening. This surgery was very difficult to recover from. Some of the medications that had to be used during spine surgery appear to have presented some less than desirable after effects. Also, I had to be given 7 doses of medication to either raise or lower my blood pressure during the 1 ½ hour surgery. My blood pressure had been unstable. Over half of the year had disappeared before I recovered from the 3 major surgeries. Again, during the spine surgery recovery, I was able to focus on dementia awareness and helping other living with dementia. This was my lifeblood and kept me going. Purpose in life is an essential. The grand slam occurred 3 months after spinal surgery. The pain reoccurred equal or greater than before surgery. My speculation has been this occurred as a result of the increase stoop posture probably resulting from the Parkinson’s symptoms of LBD. This proved to be more challenging than the 3 previous surgeries. I was given large doses of oral steroids so that I could complete physical therapy. As a result of these steroids, I faced a 2 month increase in all of my LBD symptoms. I completed 7 weeks of physical therapy, and 2 weeks later the pain had reoccurred. Next came a cervical epidural which I have just received. I make all of these comments will full realization there continues to be life after diagnosis of LBD. All of my experiences this year have provided me tools, resources and courage to face the journey ahead. I am mentally stronger today than I was before they occurred. These obstacles have given me even more passion for dementia awareness and helping others. My new goals for 2015 are the memory café that we will be starting on January 8th, developing dementia friendly businesses and working with nursing homes to provide volunteers who will help persons with dementia and other patients’ skype or zoom with their loved ones. ALL OF US NEED PURPOSE! I will climb every mountain and bask in the view from the top. God has been with me every step of the way. He promised me in His word that He would never leave me nor forsake me, and He has honored that promise.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:45:03 +0000
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