May 31, 2018

Greetings My Friend,

Thirteen years ago I had breast cancer, that was the start of a downward spiral of my health. Radiation beat me up something awful, after the treatments were done I struggled to do most of what I had done easily before radiation then I spiraled down until sitting on the couch, moving to a chair next to the couch wore me out. The last year I worked I struggled to do my job, one I had been in for 11 years. Junior and,  I moved to Virginia, he did all the work because I was too tired to help. God blessed me because He sent me to a wonderful doctor, she helped me one problem at a time. One and a half years ago I needed to use a wheelchair whenever I went anywhere. Today I can walk pushing my walker or a shopping cart for an hour or more. My doctor sent me to a couple of specialists who did little to nothing to help me so she undertook to figure out my problem, I have Parkinson's Disease, started me on PD medication, now I am able to walk, to keep up our home, make dinners and even write. Along the way God has shown me ways to get back some of my cognitive abilities through games, learning how to preserve food, helping Junior plan out what we want in our home we are renovating. God has helped me deal with my allergies more effectively, taught me to do different types of exercises, which in turn helps keep the rigidity of PD at bay. I discovered I slept better in a recliner than I did in bed so now I wake up with very little to no stiffness. There have been days I wondered if all this work was worth the effort, when I saw my PCP yesterday, I knew it was worth the effort as she came over to give me a giant hug. My little miniature poodle died recently, she was an older dog, she had a bum leg, was blind and I took her with me wherever I went around the house and around town. She helped me walk straight when I could not use a shopping cart. I knew I needed another helper so we headed to the pound where we adopted a min pin. She is full of energy with a very sweet personality. I now need to walk her several times a day which is helping me to move about more. I have worked up to where I am able to walk halfway down my country road which excites me. We live on a beautiful mountain full of woods road, the walk is peaceful, beautiful. I am working towards being able to walk the road to its end within the next month. The only real problem I had was I struggled to wake up from my afternoon nap, my PCP suggested I use my CPAP when I take a nap as well as at bedtime. I used it yesterday, I woke up easily, was able to get up easier. It has taken a lot of energy, a lot of persistence to be where I am today, I am grateful. I am grateful God has patiently, lovingly guided my steps, now I plan on using these better days to tell of how God has been helped me, given me quite a bit of my life back. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet