05/29/2026
Note to self.
Exactly one year ago today you were being sent to the ER from infusions. You had an Elkhart General stay for two days, during that they knicked your spleen.They sent you to University of Michigan. They told you, you have 3-6 months left if you do not get a new liver. You had now become too far gone for it to regenerate itself again, and you were no longer eligible for the liver at the time.
Fast forward to a brutal summer of, constant ER visits and endless potassium infusions. Hallucinations, freezing cold in 90° weather, terrible fatigue and no charge in energy. Spending more days in the hospital than at home.
You smiled when you could but you were not only battling your body but you were in a war with your mind as well.
Everyday was a challenge to get the voice of the doctor out of your head. Everyday, telling yourself, you WILL live longer than what they say. But your body was hurting so bad....
Here we are, after decades of trying. University of Chicago Medicine was the hospital that said, "YOU have to do it if you want to live. We can only give you a new liver. You do the rest!"
By no means has the fight or journey ended, but this is a massive jump into chapter two! You have reached ONE YEAR of sobriety!
Miniscule to some, an impossible fantasy to others. It has been accomplished.
At 12:20am I looked in the mirror and said to myself; "YOU. DID.THIS. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!
That is the only person you need to hear it from!!"
Here we go Round Two!!
Already: no hospital stay in 3 months, advantures, bought my own car, and writing the book that needs to be written.
You are changing your life in ways no one saw coming. YOU ARE DOING IT, AND YOU WILL KEEP DOING IT.
LOVE, YOURSELF
(The first three pictures are when I was sick, the last three are present:)) 💙
P.s-yes my eyes were that jaundice.
