You never know who's listening

A local friend with Gastroparesis just like me sees an adult GI doctor here. She had an appointment today with him and he told her about me. Apparently he was out our church on Youth Sunday when I was speaking about living with Gastroparesis and how it's modeled my faith. He said he heard me talk and told her I was absolutely phenomenal! Little did he know I am good friends with this person! Anyway if you want to see my sermon from Youth Sunday click here: http://youtu.be/Vjl6w8uNRRI

Sometimes...

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding...

Why did this happen to me?
Why did I get Gastroparesis and someone else didn't?
Why do I take so many medications?
Why is it so hard?
Why does food make me sick?
Why do I spend so much time at the hospital?
Why do I have so many doctors?
Why do I have tubes sticking out of my body?
Why do I feel so sick?


Why me...?

Donate Blood

Did you know less than 7% of the world donates blood? There is nothing more I have ever wanted to do in this world than donate blood. When you turn 16 with a parent's permission you are allowed to donate assuming you meet all the qualities. I turn 16 on Thursday. I have a parent's permission however I do not meet the qualities. Due to my disease I have become anemic and several other vitamin deficiencies that come along with not being able to eat. Mainly my iron deficiency. The iron deficiency had caused anemia so I needed oral iron supplements into my J-tube. I was not absorbing the medication and was referred to Hematology where I received IV Iron infusions. I don't remember how many I've had but I haven't needed one since April. As we believe my numbers have finally stabilized as to why I haven't received any infusions. My numbers are good and we think now my body has gotten itself back to normal and hope it will produce iron on it's own now. Low iron can lead to a number of other problems and can be a result of many other conditions. Mine being Gastroparesis. This means I am not allowed to donate blood. I really wanted to have this opportunity as I have seen many personally be dependent upon blood products. Patients with cancer, blood disorders, and trauma victims all rely on blood as many others with other different conditions. I am asking all my friends who meet the requirements to donate blood if they are able in honor of me! Although, my wish can't become true you can help those who need the blood by donating for me! Please remember that although you may be denied the first time you have tried to donate blood you may now be eligible either now or in the near future!

For more information on blood donation and facts please click here.

Life changes forever when you are sick

When you get sick your life changes forever. Suddenly the things you thought meant the most to you don't matter anymore. One moment you are worried about what to wear to the party and the next you are worried about staying alive. Being sick definitely changes your perspective on life.

I know I won't ever take another moment for granted. Life is precious. It doesn't always turn out how we want it to. Maybe today you are the healthiest person you know but tomorrow you are diagnosed with a disease that has no fix...and that changes everything.

What I'm trying to say is nothing in life is ever promised. Maybe we will live for another 50 years. I know I would love to live till 100! I'm quite a far ways away! I only turn 16 on Thursday! Tomorrow could be your last day maybe your life will end in a few months from now and who even knows if today is the last day we will live here on earth. God does some crazy things!

We don't understand why God does these crazy things but if I do know one thing it's that God doesn't want to hurt us in anyway. Everything He does is to help benefit us and make our life exactly the way he wants it to be!

Becoming sick has made me realize the power of God and prayer. He helps me make it through the day when I am so much pain and i just can't handle it anymore. As long as you pray things will and do get better eventually God leads us to the right path! The plan we have for ourselves doesn't even compare to the plan God has in place for the rest of our life.

Ten Things To Understand About Living With A Chronic Illness

1. People always say "You are too young to be in that much pain!" Chronic illnesses do not discriminate! It does not matter your age, race, gender, or where you live. All children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and the elderly are at a risk of developing and managing a chronic illness.

2. "But you look perfectly fine!" That's the problem we aren't "just fine." Our disease is invisible to the naked eye but, if you turn our bodies inside out you would see the real damage our disease has caused us. The reason most people with chronic illnesses look fine is because 97% of chronic illness are invisible(often nicknamed invisible illnesses) 

3. We do not cancel plans on purpose or because we don't want to hang out with you. Trust me! We would do anything to be normal and just hang out with friends but sometimes we are too sick to even get out of bed! Please understand we don't mean to cancel last minute but this disease effects daily and how we feel changes daily. Maybe one day we are able to go out to a movie with friends and then the next we are lying in a hospital bed.

4. Laying in bed all day is not a luxury! Netflix and the Internet can only entertain you so much! After a few hours you start to get bored and want to experience a typical life. Another thing do not wish you were us and say you want to live like we do because it is definitely not glamorous! Many of us would much rather be working or hanging out with friends.

5. "It's all in your head!" No, this is a very common saying everyone with a chronic illness has heard. It is not psychological. It is real and causes very severe physical effects to the body. Psychological illnesses do not cause hair loss, heart defects, decreased lung function, paralysis, or dysfunctional gastrointestinal systems.

6. Do not pity us. We can do most everything you can do. We just have some extra challenges in the way. It may take some extra time but we will get there eventually. That pity makes us feel like you miss out on all the amazing things we can. Try not to focus on the "I can't" and look at what an amazing person we really are. We get enough pity from random strangers and we do not need it from friends and family. 

7. If you don't know about our disease ask! We will be more than happy to explain it to you so you can understand more about our condition. Information found online may not be entirely accurate or related to the specific diagnosis we have. Never assume that you know it all when more than likely you don't! So please do not come up to us saying you've found our miracle cure because more than likely you haven't! 

8. Most importantly we are not lazy. Many with chronic illnesses deal with chronic fatigue and that just wears us out to start with! Imagine if you were fighting a battle against your own body. Your body has to do both parts of the fighting here! Can you imagine how much energy that takes? We try to keep caught up with work and school and not stay in bed and sleep all the time but it does get hard.

9. "If only you would exercise more!" I've heard this one too many times before. Your physical strength does play a role in chronic illnesses but trust me we try to keep pushing through and do as much as we can! However our disease can limit the amount of energy and strength we have so this makes exercising difficult. There are some chronic illnesses which require the patient to not exercise at all! Often times exercise can make chronic illnesses worse. The patient's physician will be able to tell whether exercise would be beneficial. 

10. "If only you were more positive! Then you would feel better." Everyday we wake up and put on a brave face, smile, and act like nothing is wrong. People with chronic illnesses are some of the bravest, happiest people I've ever met! They love life for what it is because they all know life is short and you don't get an extra chance! It is hard to be positive everyday when nothing ever seems to go right and you're in so much pain. Everyone is entitled to a mental breakdown every once in a while.