It's a snowy Saturday here in NC. Which means the entire Triangle area has been shut down. Literally. The mayhem started on Tuesday. Yes, Tuesday. When the weather man called for snow people went into panic mode, took all the bread off the shelves, sent everyone home early, and hunkered down. Crazy. All the northern transplants are sitting here laughing, but staying inside because it is very icy out there...
I stayed in doors today, did some laundry and tried this recipe I saw on Pinterest for veggie nuggets (I can hear my sister's 'I'm judging you' voice, "What? Veggie Nuggets? Who are you!?") that I saw on Pinterest, as with most other things people try on Pinterest...it was a failure. I don't know what I did wrong but they were too mushy. They didn't solidify. Perhaps it was the fact that I used the wrong peppers AND 'regular' beets instead of golden beets. (It looked like a crime scene in my kitchen for a while!) Either way, I stuck with it and made them. They taste good, they just look weird. And they are a very deep shade of pink. HA! If anyone has other ideas for veggie nuggets that actually work...feel free to share! I'm always looking for a creative way to get my veggies!
Since I'm just sitting here, being interrupted from time to time by my roomie showing me "abs inspirations" for the abs we are going to get by the summer so she can look good in the bathing suits she impulsively bought online today, I decided to share my brief medical history of 2016. It was pretty noteworthy for me, considering I don't usually ever meet my insurance premiums. I sure did this year...but for great reasons!
Moving at the beginning of the year meant a lot of good things for me however, it meant leaving behind my doctors, my medical advocates (my parents) and the overall sense of security I had. I could not let my little half a heart stop me from walking where God had called me to walk. After all, He made me the way I am and I doubt that He would have lead me here and said, "Ooops, I forgot about your medical issues! Sorry!".
When I got here, I got myself settled in and began my search to find a new doctor. Thankfully, this area is FILLED with some the best medical research and minds. The Triangle area of NC, is filled with universities, hospitals, and medical research. When looking for a doctor, I wanted them to be reputable, exude confidence (but not arrogance), and personable. If I'm going to be their patient for a long while, I needed to make sure I liked them! I also wanted a doctor that specialized in Adult Congenital Heart Disease. See, not too many adults with CHD are alive today. Only in recent years have people with CHD been living long enough to make it to adult hood. I wanted to make sure that whoever my new doctor was, knew how to get through adulthood and all the challenges that may bring. I did some research, narrowed it down, and made an appointment to see an Adult Congenital Cardiologist at Duke University Medical Center.
My cardiologist appointment made me nervous. I didn't sleep well the night before, I had to pray and take a deep breath before I walked in. I sat anxiously in the waiting room, and had to concentrate on relaxing during the exams. I got an Echo and an EKG, which at this point I could give myself in my sleep. I got some blood work done too while I was there. Not much has changed in 26 years yet, fear tried to get the best of me again, BUT...My cardiologist appointment was also a reminder of the faithfulness of God and the power of prayer. Every year I am reminded that God made me perfectly, and He has been in control since before I was born. Every year I am reminded and thankful for all the numerous prayers that have been prayed, and have been answered, over the years. Every year I leave my appointment feeling thankful, blessed, and with tears of joy in my eyes. Every year I am reminded I have nothing to fear. This year was no exception. God was, once again, faithful. In fact, my doctor said to me that my Fontan (the operation they did to "fix" me) was "One of the best Fontan's I've ever seen!"
The appointment was a true success, I loved, loved, LOVED my cardiologist! He was all the things I wanted and was looking for and more! He spent almost an hour with me, talking to me, explaining things to me, asking me questions and listening to me. He showed me diagrams and drew me pictures, he explained my test results to me, and went through my medical records with me. Even his nurse was amazing! He was an answer to my prayers! [Side bar:If you know anyone in this area who needs a great Adult CHD Cardiologist...send them my way!]
Feeling good about myself, I made an appointment to see a Neurologist, as recommended by my Cardiologist. He wanted me follow up about the seizure medicine I was on, as he didn't feel comfortable renewing my prescription. (Much appreciated, doc!) When I saw the Neurologist, I told him my story, of vertigo, and vomiting, and the diagnosis of 'ocular seizures' and how I've been on the medicine for several years symptom free. He listened to me, asked me questions, looked at my medical files, looked at my previous CT scans, and then he shared his point of view. He told me that he didn't think that I was having seizures, that from what I described it sounded like bad vertigo that seems to have coincidentally gone away with the medicine. He told my scans looked normal, perhaps I had a smaller brain than average. (Yes, he said I have a small brain. He said, "I mean that in the nicest way possible. You are a small person so it makes sense. I'm sure you are very, very intelligent!" I just laughed. I laughed so hard! Then I told him not to tell my siblings or they would make fun of me forever.)
The most important thing the Neuroligist said during my visit was that he felt it wasn't necessary for me to be on any additional medications long term if I didn't need to be. He proposed that I take a break from the seziure medicine for the summer, as to aliveate fear of having an episode at work, and to see if it was possible to remain off of it. I appreciated how he made feel it was my decision too. He respected my concerns, and yet made me feel confident in his opinion and medical expertise. I truly felt at ease and so when I went camping with friends for my birthday weekend, the first weekend of summer, I didn't pack the sezuire meds. I didn't take them all summer and I have't taken it since. I visited my doctor again at the end of the summer. He was as happy as was I with the outcome. A whole summer off the meds and whole summer of no symptoms! Although the start of the new school year and the stress that brings made me nervous, he reassured me that I could call the moment I neded to, as he will remain my doctor. Thankfully, I haven't needed to yet. Once again though, God showed me His faithfulness and that He does hear and answer my prayers.
This year has shown me so many things, but for me, "medically speaking" as they say, God showed me, once again, that He knows the plans He has for me. God has declared it. God plans to prosper me and not to harm me. God gives me hope and He gives me a future. I find God when I seek Him with my whole half of a heart. This year, I am determined to live my life with out fear...
...and to find a way to have my recipes come out looking the way they do on Pinterest!
Happy Snow Saturday!
-Emmy
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