I hope all is going well for you Lisa. I will be praying for you. Keep your head up and keep smiling that beautiful smile of yours!
Hugs,
Bridgette
To all on Careplace: Although I don’t always post, I do read many of your posts and appreciate all the support everyone gives to everyone else. I feel bad because I was away from this forum for almost a month and wasn’t here to give Lisa the support she needed. I hope that she is doing well at Mayo and will keep us updated. I know there are many others of you who have suffered and who many not have gotten the support you needed. I hope you will still reach out. Many of you are in my spot. You are sick and yet you try to keep up with work, family and even other pancreatitis websites, and that doesn’t count all the time it takes to go to the doctors, the hospitals, take our meds, and just take time to recover from an attack. Lisa and everyone, please know that I am sending out my support even if I’m not posting. You are a great group of people, here and on the other websites and if I ruled the world pancreatitis would be banned forever! Hang in there all of you and best wishes for the holiday season. Ellen
WOW durga,
what a wonderful letter of confidence, security, hopefulness, and just words of praise! This is such a wonderful site because of special friends like you! I did notice my name was brought up, which is just fine with me, I did feel terrible about not being on lending the support that you and Lisa have Always provided for ME. I understand that we can’t always be in the right place with the right words, I just wish that I was feeling better and my home/family start settling down a little. I am completely wore out as I have said. But did get some good news finally after 2 months of unhealthy news, My platelets are UP yeah! to 63,000 still low, but better then 30,000. Also don’t remember if I told you in a private message that I do have an appt. with the doctor in Omaha, Ne. February 25th seems like forever, As long as I get there right 
I remember after talking with you I am not afraid anymore, sometimes I do read post that scare me, but I always remember you telling me "Watch a funny movie or read or something to take my mind off of the procedures that I will have done, and YES that does work. As long as I get there right My mother starts Radiation treatment in Jan. and we just pray that, that takes care of the cancer cells. She has been through 2 major surgeries and now this. Anyway I just wanted to comment on your post, and let you know I really really am glad that you stated a lot of stuff you did! And have you heard anything on how Lisa is doing? I am so very very worried about her, I know that Dave is with her (thank goodness), but I think it is just my nature (To Worry) and I do that quite well LOL. I pray daily for everyone on Careplace that they will find some type of cure for US, time will tell. Ok hon It is late and I am pooped, but again I will try and send you a message (private) to fill you in a little better as to what is going on with my blood, pancreas, liver 
I wish you and your family, and all our FRIENDS here on careplace A Very Merry Christmas, and a Pain Free Holiday! Oh one more thing, the bracelet you sent me, I would like to order one from you, with a charm that says “Mother”, there is no rush it’s not for x-mas, it’s for my mom’s b-day in Feb. Just let me know hon and I will send the money to you in Jan. ok…
Lots and Lots of Hugs to you my greatest friend!!!
Love Ya, Barb
Lisa my dear girl, hang in there and I pray your trip home will be tolerable,please keep us posted and get some “sweet Sleep” love ya
Julie
Hello, Everyone!
I’m sorry that I’m not able to reply to the many other posts and questions right now (I’ll get to them shortly, I hope) but at least wanted to let you all know how things were going here at Mayo and mostly to thank you all for your support (I wrote a posted reply the other day but it never showed up and then disappeared entirely).
First, to Kubladi I can’t thank you enough for starting this amazing thread of support, love, caring, and encouragement for all of us! I had figured after I wrote my post saying how scared I was and that I had posted twice shortly prior with little response, that I would get blasted negatively from everyone. Instead, I was reminded how wonderful this site can be, had been for many of us, and how many incredible friends many of us have made here: true friends who care, offer their advice selflessly, and often send hugs and words of praise, prayer and love. I just feel so special to be receiving so much of it in response to what I wrote and cannot find mere words to express how grateful I am for every bit of it. Everyone here continues to make such a difference for me and for each other by helping us all to get through this disease and all that comes with it.
As for Mayo, last Monday I was supposed to get an EUS with I.V. sedation after meeting with the top pancreatic doc here, Dr. Suresh T. Chari (info on his specialization can be found at this link: http://www.mayoclinic.org/bio/11770821.html). He’s really great but decided not to do the celiac block Monday but instead, tomorrow (Friday), will put me under a full general anesthesia instead and take a look at everything (EUS w/block and possibly dilation of biliary duct and biopsies, etc., colonoscopy, endoscopy, and who knows what else). At least this way I only go “under" once for everything they need to look at.
They had also had me do a bunch of labs (luckily all from my Mediport what a relief), see their Medical Genetics doc (I also have Ehlers-Danlos Classical Type which I was born with and they wanted to look at any relationship, we’re guessing) and to visit their Pain Rehab Center (PRC) and this unfortunately was basically not even an option to consider.
At their pain/drug center (PRC), you go for 3 weeks and they do PT/OT/exercise, drop the drugs levels, etc and while I’m trying to be open minded about everything here, they didn’t seem to want to hear that I already do much more PT/OT/exercise than their program even offers. I also have NO problem at all lowering or stopping pain meds when the pancreatic pain is less. I’ve done it before and can and will do it again and don’t need a “pain rehab" center to do this (sorry if this sounds defensive It just wasn’t for me). Then, as we were leaving, I noticed they had a number of locked seclusion rooms for their patients. It looked more like an inpatient psychiatric unit than an outpatient facility to help with pain coping skills. As for their “PRC, " I"ll keep that one in the folder for now. I was hoping they’d really have some great ideas to offer, but can you imagine being there in pancreatic pain (they also didn’t seem to really comprehend that I’ve had so much pain my whole life due to numerous “disabling" pain conditions I’m diagnosed or was born with, but cope just fine despite all of them). I couldn’t even imagine being there with CP pain like we get and getting locked up or anything like that. Durga and others here have helped me to feel just fine crying or holding things tightly (like my boyfriend!) or even screaming although I do this when I’m alone so I don’t scare anyone. Since I’ve worked as a social worker in an inpatient psych hospital, I could see this wasn’t what I needed and I know my resilience and my skill level and felt this wouldn’t be a helpful option. I’m just too devoted to getting better, getting off pain meds, and staying happy and focused and I do these things anyway, without being in a facility. Enough on that! Not for me The good part was that most of the clinics, visits, docs, etc. have all been awesome here. I’ve really been impressed by that and the specialists I’ve had consults with.
I’m anemic and deficient in a few labs not surprising, which is likely causing all the numbness in my hand/arms and feet/legs as well as contributing to the fatigue like the pain isn’t tiring enough! They’re running some more labs today to check on a few other things that were off a bit.
Mostly, Dave and I are finding a way to have some fun every day. Like whoever mentioned getting a wheelchair for getting around I use one anyway when I’m not doing short walks in my braces (check out www.lisabard.com if you haven’t seen the '“whole" me and it was a great suggestion. But what’s fun is that my chair has light-up front wheels that make everyone smile and going uphill on carpet I grab onto Dave’s belt or back pockets and he takes off walking or running, pulling me around and through Mayo! We laugh and so do most people we pass it’s a brief break from everything “bad,“ and any break is a great one! Aside from all the nausea and pain and stuff, we’re being “us” and making it through and laughing together every day. Dave’s one of those incredibly rare guys who’s always there and knows I’m always there for him, too. We’re doing this here together, like we would anything in life and having fun despite the CP stuff (hard to imagine, I know!)!
I’m still pretty scared, especially being so clueless about what to expect for tomorrow but my mom is driving in tonight (she lives about 2 hours away in MN) and with Dave by my side, anything is possible. We’re just hoping for something to come from this that will make it easier to continue going through it at home and hopefully finding a solution to the CP one day. We know it WILL happen! We have too much fun ahead to have it stay around too much longer!
One more thought: I think that Durga had a good point that we’re all different and will have different reactions to procedures, etc. We should always keep that in mind. That being said, I’d like to add that my feeling is that we should continue to tell our stories, even if they’re scary ones. If we only tell each other the good stuff, I feel we give each other a false positive/sense of what can happen. If we tell each other the whole story, good or bad, the person asking about the procedure or thing can judge for themselves and make sure they’re well-informed. The reality is this disease and many of the things we will consider having done (surgeries, blocks, procedures, etc.) are scary and we should always be honest with each other and trust each other to make good decisions.
Again, I’d like to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart for all of your replies, notes and hugs. They really are invaluable when you have this disease, are scared or hurting or just needing some extra support and love from outside your regular support network. The friendships we make here by offering this support and helping each other and ourselves are incredible and, again, I’d like to say “Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!"
Much love and many hugs to all and I do hope you’re all doing okay and will have a good Holiday season and a better New Year in 2008! Hug yourselves for me and know how special and unique you all are And thanks so much again for being there!!!
Miss you all and hope to be back in touch more after I come home from Mayo!
Lisa
PS-- Just for more fun… (I showed up with a t-shirt that had a pancreas on it and said “My Pancreas is Sad” when I met the CP specialist… and I’m wearing it again for the surgical stuff tomorrow!). Here’s the link I used… scroll through the pages and various products for each item. There are some really funny ones and we can all use a CP laugh! (Note that they’re not all pancreatic cancer items.) http://www.cafepress.com/buy/pancreatic+cancer+awareness
Dear Lisa: It was so good to hear from you. Best wishes for a successful procedure tomorrow. My thoughts and prayers will be with you. Hang in there! I hope one day you can wear a shirt that says My Pancreas is Happy!
Take care,
Ellen
Thanks for the update! I am glad that even thru the “bad” you are still finding a few laughs and smiles. I try to do the same! I do hope that they find a way to help you tomorrow. Update us about tomorrow when you can. I know it is scary, but try to feel that “held” feeling I talked about in my note. You will be just fine!
Take care and God Bless
Keri
Lisa,
Thanks for the update. It sounds like you are in good hands. I know that having doctors that you like and have confidence in is half the battle. Dave - What a gem you are!!! Thank you for taking such good care of our girl.
My thoughts and prayers will be with you tomorrow. I will also be praying for Mom and Dave as they sit and wait for the results.
God Bless you Lisa.
Also to the other members of Care Place - May God Bless you all. I’m dealing with some depression right now but feel like I need to pass on a blessing to all of you. Your posts really do help me to keep going. Thank you for that.
Keep the Faith and God Bless,
Vonnie
Vonnie,
What’s happening? Is it the pain that’s making you depressed or is it the seasonal depression? I know most of them especially when the days get darker early it makes them depressed. Sometimes you have let the feelings go by themselves because it is natural when someone suffering for such a long time feels little depressed. It’s OK! There is nothing wrong in it. You’ll slowly feel better after all the feelings get through by you. Meanwhile you can try listening to good music, watching a funny movie to divert your mind if it hurts too much.
Remember you are in my prayers and thoughts. I’m here to listen to you if you need to talk.
Take care,
Lots of love and hugs,
Durga.
To my wonderful CarePlace Friends who deserve some smiles today…
I just found these links while nervously waiting for the time to pass and to get going on the several surgeries scheduled for today (yup, I’m still nervous!)–
http://iambossy.typepad.com/i_am_bossy/images/2007/07/02/pancreas1_3.jpg
Hope they’ll come through-- One is a funny picture and another is a bean bag pancreas you can buy! We all need to squeeze the $%^ out of one of those!
Just thinking of you all and sending some love your way-- and a few special prayers for Vonnie and anyone else who’s having a tough time today.
We’ll all get through this somehow, one day… and we’ll do it with a sense of humor if we can!
Hugs to all-- and wishes for a better day!
Lisa
Hi Vonnie,
I just wanted to send you a note to say I hope your feeling better and the depression goes away soon, I have been through that too and sometimes it just seems so overwhelming. You will get through this with prayer and all of us here on careplace!!! I also wanted to say durga’s suggestions really do work, they did for me…After the Christmas Holidays I will be putting a post out to let all of Careplace know what has been going on in my crazy world, I just don’t have the energy right now. Ok please try and have a pain free, depression free Merry Christmas and if there is anything I can help with let me know ok…
With lots of love and hugs to you,Barb
Hi Lisa,
sound like you have your brain working hard to find laughter and hope…I was so glad to see the post, I printed a couple of them as I have been down and dealing with other major issues right now. But I will update everyone here on careplace after the holidays are over. I am so happy to hear that your doing good, and staying upbeat through all of your tests, pain…Tell Dave, that I thank him for being there with you and what a wonderful man, and I am glad your mom is there with you two as well…Ok hon keep up the smiles, and Have a Very Merry Christmas, with love, hugs, prayers coming your way…
Love Barb
Dear All:
Well, after a long, somewhat weird but distressing day at Mayo (I was talking to the surgeon, getting prepped for the EUS, colonoscopy, etc. when they told me that they had NO intention to do a celiac block and wondered why they were doing the colonoscopy… and it went on from there. I couldn’t believe I came half-way across the country how I was feeling to hear that! Anyway, after discussions with the docs involved, they “better” explained a few things… and I thought I’d pass on their thinking here: First, they say that “chronic pancreatitis” isn’t about how long you’ve had it (I had always been told that after you’ve had the inflammation and flares continually for more than a few months, and in my case way over a year, that it was ‘chronic’). They say that they don’t call it CP unless you meet most of 12 factors they look for… and I didn’t have most of those at any point–“just” the inflammation and blocked ducts, etc. While there was some disagreement about what the films/reports had definitely said about seeing CP in me and the repeated inflammation of the tail of my pancreas (keep in mind my Amylase, Lipase, etc. had been in the 3,000 range when it used to flare and show up-- and I had had numerous sphincterotomies to open the biliary and pancreatic ducts, etc.-- in either case, they said this was “NOT” CP. It got pretty confusing.
While after hearing more of the risks of the celiac block-- like paralysis, etc.-- I told them that if they go in through the EUS and see a sick pancreas, please do it-- for any relief it might give (and I know how many of you have had the blocks and good results!)-- but if they went in and found nothing wrong, not to take the risk, of course.
Well, after waking up (and making sure I wasn’t paralyzed, etc.) I was told they did the block, but that they didn’t listen to what I had said in that they told me the pancreas looked fine. Well, that was awesome news, except that I still can’t take a bite of food without ongoing nausea and horrible, horrible pain in my stomach and through my back-- just how the CP pain had been for most of the past two years. Then, after telling me they had found “nothing wrong,” they said they did biopsies of the lymph nodes of the pancreas because they were very swollen/enlarged-- and that they found that the ganglia of the pancreas-- the nerve bundles there- were so enlarged that they had never even seen anything like it… and basically didn’t know what to make of it.
So, I’m left in a LOT of pain right now and trying to figure out how to travel back-- I’m running a low fever but am having very bad pain right in the same old pancreas area (and I know that you can also get AP flares from biopsies of this area)-- but it was so bad last night I really thought I was going to pass out again. It’s “better” than that today, but I’m not acting as it feels. I feel like crying and screaming in pain, but know I have to drive a few hours back to another part of MN and then get ready to fly out on the 24th. I’m actually very worried about how it’s feeling, and just hope so much that it will calm down in the next day or so and “just” have been like an AP flare. It feels like worse-- maybe because they were cutting stuff out at the pancreas and maybe all the residual problems of pain there are from the ganglia being so enlarged. I just hope someone, one of the specialists, will have some thoughts and be able to figure something out. I also hope the biopsies won’t show anything too bad. Also, they did nothing to look at or figure out why my stools are so light and “pencil” thin. They were supposed to do that. So, I might still have a biliary block of some sort, but don’t even know. I’m very disappointed at that not being looked at while they were inside everywhere.
So, maybe the enlarged nerve areas of the pancreas explain the pain, I don’t know. It’s great that the pancreas itself supposedly looks so good, but at the end, the pancreatic specialist was talking J-Tubes and stuff for getting my nutrition back and being safer than TPN… but I also know from some of you that even J-Tubes can leave you losing weight and in pain. I basically don’t see an answer here. For now, I’m going off the enzymes unless I hear otherwise and will hope with all I have that someone “back home” will figure out what these enlarged areas mean and what, if anything, can be done.
I love you all and thank you again for all the support, prayers and friendship through all this-- as always, I can’t thank you enough. I’m also sending all the same back to all of you having a rough time and pain and difficulty, especially through the Holidays.
And since I’m trying to send smiles with each post, I hope next time you’re feeling hungry and can’t eat much, you’ll get a laugh out of this (and no offense, I hope-- it’s meant to make you smile-- gross as it may be)-- but I found, in doing more online research of my situation, someone eating pancreas! How gross is that: /Users/lisabard/Desktop/Pancreas.jpg
Have a great weekend, or at least the best you can, and all the best of love and happiness to every one on CarePlace and their Pancreases!
Many more hugs and thanks to all,
Lisa
Well Lisa,
I was glad to see your update. I hoped the block would help. Maybe when this possible AP flare subsides then maybe the block will do more??? I’m just grasping at straws… I am sorry about the confusion about the diagnosis of CP or not CP. I know last week with my EUS, them only finding 1 marker for me was very frustrating, not that I wanted to be sick. It is just that when I treat myself like I do have CP with diet ect, my pain is less than if I just do and eat whatever I want, So is that an official diagnosis?? No it isn’t but it is a lifestyle change, just as if I did get an official CP diagnosis, which I would assume will come eventually with all these AP flares.
I do pray for safe travels for you guys and also that your pancreas settles down a bit before then. Take care of yourself and rest as much as you can before you leave. I will be thinking of you on Christmas Eve when you travel. Let us know when you are home safe and sound. Love and hugs!
Keri
Lisa,
Thank you so much for the update-we have all been thinking about you and praying many questions would be answered for you.
Very interesting about the markers-you and I have talked alot about this disease and mutual doctor and that point has never been raised. How many markers do you have to have to show pain???
I hope the block will start to work as time goes on-what does their pain management group think about the ganglia? Do they recommend any type of cutting or even some possible medication to ease some of the inflammation in that area?
Please have a safe trip home and again many prayers that this pain will ease up for you. It is great news that your pancreas look good-if this bundles of nerves could be causing all your pain then that’s the direction to go in now. Sounds like you were in very good hands Lisa and it was well worth the trip. Would you consider discussing this with Dr. K at Hopkins to get his opinion? Maybe with this new info he could refer you to someone to help or change his options for you. Might be worth a shot.
Please keep posting and keep positive with all the news. You are getting closer to an answer for all this hell. God bless and stay well.
Terri
Hi Lisa,
I can just think about your positive attitude when I was reading all about diagnosis. I remember when we thought of going to either Mayo or Johns Hopkins so that maybe specialists find something and will do something for us. WE went on their websites and read everything. There was a note saying if you had all the procedures listed below please do not come here with high hopes. And I had all those procedures. We had discussion with my surgeon at U PENN and he said, we have everything here what those big hospitals have. We did all we could. 'So, we decided to accept it and go to pain clinic, end up on J-tube for lifetime to survive for the little baby I just had, for my little boy, my husband who is unbelievably so great, for those old parents who are in India hoping I’ll be alright someday, already lost a child to Meningitis when my younger brother was 10 yrs old, after that all their attention turned towards me, I don’t want to push them into sorrow by doing something drastic. I’m telling all this not to depress you dear friend. You need to think about all the people who love you and just keep moving on! I don’t have to tell you all this. *You know all this, you are a motivational speaker, helped so many people by telling them not to give up, to keep going, be positive etc. *
YOU ARE GOING TO BE OK, MY DEAR FRIEND! YOU CAN DO IT ! YOU ARE STRONGER THAN THIS STUPID DISEASE, OR DIAGNOSIS. WE ARE ALL WAITING EAGERLY FOR YOUR RETURN AND YOU HAVE BEEN LOVED BY SO
MANY PEOPLE.
When you were going we talked about me and my husband. And thought because you didn’t had surgeries and some of the procedures maybe the specialists there will be able to help you. We were hoping you’ll come back with the some kind of answers to such pain, with relief from stupid pain. Maybe the block will work out because they have done so many tests the Pancreas must be acting up so it may take a while to work for you. Don’t give up faith my dear friend. It should help you. It helped Joe for a while and he was so happy that he doesn’t have to feel the pain for at least few months.
I know how upset you must be and disappointed. Somehow I was thinking maybe they’ll suggest the J-tube thing. It’s not because I have it, because you are losing weight and your body needs nutrition. And then thought if they can do some procedure or surgery if it works out she doesn’t need it.Take lots of rest and I’m not going to say don’t be disappointed. Only you have to go through what you are going through my dear friend. We can just say feel better, don’t worry, something may work out. Right now you may not like those words.
You need energy and strength to come back. I wish you all the best. How is Dave taking all this? He must be so mad at the whole health system. I know I would be.
*Right now support each other and pull yourself together come home safe and sound. After resting for a while then let’s all think about what should be the next step. *
Safe Journey darling.
Sending lot of love and hugs towards you.
Durga.
Lisa,
Just read all the posts about the Mayo visit and it breaks my heart to hear the pain is still there, and things sound like they are still very much up in the air. Sure thought this time, there would be some great news and getting out of pain would be it. Please, please, please hang in there and keep on pushing forward, okay.
Going through some of the recent posts, too, I have to apologize for not having been in contact more and posting words or wisdom, strength and encouragement here, but like many, I’ve sort of felt alone – since I seem to have been one of the few to have gotten better and rejoined life, so to speak. Posts of well-wishes and thoughts for everyone last Thanksgiving when I was in Italy seemed to have gone unheard – with no responses, but still, I took everyone with me when we heard the Pope give his Thanksgiving Day prayer in St. Peter’s Square. I guess I feel a bit abandoned because I’ve gotten better and maybe it’s been taken the wrong way?
Anyway, even though I haven’t posted and haven’t been in contact with you, Durga and the other’s whom have touched my heart and life so significantly – through fear, pain, anxiousness, surgery and finally back to good health – I’ll never forget everything this site has done for me and the strength, determination and information I gathered from all the magnificient people here – like you – HERO’S in every sense of the word. There are a lot of you – too numerous to mention.
In closing, I needed to put heartfelt thanks and gratitude once again for everything everyone has done for me here. In silence, strength and good health, I’ll continue to fight for everyone with disease and never give up with hope for a cure.
All I know is, without Careplace and true angels on earth, who knows how I would have come out of this?
May each and every one of the members here at Careplace have a safe, happy, joyous, healthy and pain free holiday. I carry each and every one of you with me always, and I hold on to that every day.
Happy Christmas to all!
Charles
Hey, Charles…
It’s always, always, always so good to hear from you. For me, you never leave my thoughts and you are so responsible for both being my example of the “yes, some people DO make it ‘out’ of this,” and also, a great source of my continued laughter throughout dealing with this horrible disease. Dave and I talk about you, too, and still hope we can meet you and Rex sometime. You are never alone with this, in the best of times, or in those toughest of days.
Just remember that you are far, far from forgotten (I don’t remember seeing your Thanksgiving Post, but a delayed “thanks” for sending it and thinking of everyone) and YOU are and remain of of those “heroes” here, just as we all are for having the strength to deal with pancreatic disease and for facing it head-on and never giving up, as difficult as it gets many days.
Keep doing great!!! I don’t think it’s that anyone is leaving you out because you’re doing so well-- you’re doing well is just great encouragement for all of us still struggling and hoping and praying we will be back to life one day as well… but I think we miss hearing from you more on how you’re doing (in good times and in bad). At least that’s how I feel… and you should always know how special you are to me and will always be. I really hope you won’t feel alone (you can always call or write or let me/us know what you need anytime!), and I’m sorry if I ever missed anything you wrote that might have contributed to feeling that way. We need people in this group who have found a way to feel better and get through it and over it… and you’ve still had your share of struggles along the way as well. That’s like light that shines through at the end of the very long tunnel… but ISN’T an oncoming train for once! You, in that way, get to be the hope to hang onto for those of us still stuck in the tunnel, under the tracks.
Enough metaphors-- You are my angel, Charles. Just don’t fly away!!!
Enjoy the Holidays… I know that can be hard sometimes, too. Just know you’re loved and always a part of this group, in good times and bad equally.
Hugs and love,
Lisa
To All of Careplace!
I hope everyone had a great holiday and had a pain free one at that! Just wanted to say that all of you are sooo awesome in your support for this website!!! I can’t thank you all enough for the encouraging words, the laughs, the SMILES!!!and of course all the BUNCHES & BUNCHES of HUGS!!! And most important of all, lets not forget the PRAYERS!!! I’ve been feeling pretty good during this Holiday Season and I’ve been thinking of you all and just what you really do mean to me! You are such an awesome group of people who reach out to others who are suffering and in need of a hug,smile, or just a kind word.
I do know that sometimes a person can become depressed with this disease, as I have been there more than once, but I keep my faith and hope in God that I will make it through to brighter days ahead! There’s always that Silver Lining you know!! When I’m in pain and suffer, I try and remember that there are those who suffer much, much, more than I do/ but they are such BEAUTIFUL ANGELS of ENCOURAGEMENT through it all. Again, I just want you all to know that you really mean
a lot of me!! You’re the BEST, and DON’T GIVE UP HOPE.
Love & Hugs, Truffles
Lisa,
I hope and pray your trip to Mayo has turned out okay…I have been incarcerated at my local “spa” (read: Hospital) for a particularly nasty flare up since Friday the 14…just barely made it home for Christmas. I haven’t even skipped forward far enough in my emails to find out how you are yet, but I want you to know, and I know this sounds wierd, but you were on my mind and in my prayers while I was in-spa.
Hang in there, honey…I know you are scared, those of us that are used to being strong enough to control what goes around us get a little panicky when things feel/ are uncertain and beyond our control. Just remember, YOU DO have friends that love and appreciate you, no matter what. But most importantly, you are a loved, perfectly understood child of God, and He will give you all the strength you need to face whatever frightens you…even if it is Him.
Standing right with you, my friend, arm in arm…I promise I won’t let go.
Susan