Fundraising Ideas???

I will be volunteering fot the LCMS National Youth Gathering this July in New Orleans.  I had a ride all set up and ready to go for me to get there and get back home but today that plan fell through.  Now I'm scrambling to scrape up some travel money to get to the Gathering.  If anyone has any ideas at all about fundraising ideas good for March and April or any fundraising ideas in general please let me know.  Thanks so much!!!

Trouble

Hey, sorry about the long silence.  I have been dealing with a lot lately at school.  I have been struggling with getting the interpreters I need which is a little bit annoying.  I keep getting interpreters who arrive late or cannot do the job properly.  Hopefully the managers will be fixing the situation soon.  


I also have a person almost stalking me.  That is really getting to me.  He started coming over last semester and wanted to talk to me because I was Deaf.  It was a little weird then because he stayed for hours that night and seemed to get a little too close for comfort.  He wanted to see all of the adaptive equipment I used and when I showed him my videophone he saw my number so now he calls me.  He comes around all the time wanting to hang out even if I am not in the mood.  Whenever I say no he gets annoyed with me and follows me around so I have stopped responding whenever possible.  I'm not sure what the best route to go is with this situation but I am talking with my supervisor tomorrow and I am thinking of changing my number.  We shall see what happens...


Anyways, on to positive things... I am getting my surgery for my jaw in less than a month.  Its hard to believe that I might be pain free in just a few weeks!  That is such a awesome thought!!!!  Some of my friends are planning on visiting me in the hospital after surgery so I am excited for that as well... They make any situation better...  I remember after one of my jaw surgeries, some friends came to visit and they just made me laugh and be happier.  Laughing made me hurt but I just couldn't help it.  They are so great!


I had a meeting with my adviser a few days ago and I have about 25 more required credits before I can graduate!  I am so excited to graduate and get my teacher license and then get my Master degree in Deaf education.  So much to do but I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel!


My sister got a dog today and they came to visit me at school.  It is a little YorkiePoo (or something like that).  It is 10 weeks old and so darn cute!  I think I am going to have to visit home more often!  After my sister visited I started the process of getting a hearing dog.  It didn't work out the first time but I'm hoping this time might be better! 


I am trying to get plans in place to hold a lanyard workshop but with this stalker person I mentioned above I just am being more cautious and so I haven't been getting much done...


Have a good Sunday!

Mike Sutton

I mentioned way back that I had Guillain Barre Syndrome when I was 15 years old.  I was in a wheelchair for 6 months.  Now, 5 years later I am still trying to regain the strength I once had.  I got to thinking about my experience recently when I read an article about a basketball coach in Tennessee.  He too is recovering from Guillain Barre Syndrome.  Mike Sutton is very encouraging to many GBS patients because his experience was so severe he was on a ventilator for three months and he is now back on the court coaching.  It goes to show that struggles can be overcome.

A Date Has Been Set

I just got a call from the Mayo Clinic yesterday.  A date has been set for my surgery.  I have my pre-op appointment on March 16th and my surgery on March 17th.  From what I understand, they will be smoothing out the jaw joint on my right side and inserting an implant (titanium maybe?) to take the place of cartalige that should be there but isn't.  I know that I'm probably not being very clear in my description.  I will find out more on February 2nd.  I go back to the Mayo Clinic to dicuss things more with the doctors there. 


In the mean time I am hard at work studying for school.  I really do not want to get behind.  I found out last semester that getting homework done actually makes life less stressful... Imagine that... :) 


My pain is high again today but now I have a surgery date.  I am so hoping that this is the answer!!!


Have an amazing Friday!

Osteoarthritis

I went to the Mayo Clinic about a week ago and I got some news to share.  I spoke with the surgeon and he confirmed that I have a pretty bad case of osteoarthritis in both of my jaw joints.  The arthritis is not common in young people so it was determined that one or all of the three jaw surgeries I've had was the cause.  Dr. Keller wants to do surgery in 6-8 weeks but I have school then so we are planning for it to be during spring break in March.  I am both excitied and nervous.  I'm excited because this may get rid of my pain!  I am nervous because there is a chance that my pain could stay the same or get worse.  I am just praying for it to work!  

I've Known It All Along

I have aways known that my disability and health issues take alot of my parent's attention away from my brothers and sisters and I have tried to make it up to them. One of my sisters feeling this came out a few nights ago. Its made me think about how I impact their lives. She is frustrated that I take so much time needing to go to various doctors all the time. I feel so sad that I can't make everything perfect. I wish there was something that I could do to make things right, make things even between us. All I can say is that life isn't fair and I'm sorry for that. Hopefully things will get better soon. Going to doctors, needing surgeries, pain issues... its all stuff that I wish I could change but its out of my control. That is so frustrating for me. I am thankful that my siblings have been understanding but I understand the frustrations they have. I don't know what I can do at this point.

Recent Happenings

Well it has been quite a while since I have been online. A lot has happened so this may turn out to be a long post. Don't worry... I will include pictures. :)

Well one of the biggest things that occurred lately was that one of my sisters, Charlet, moved out. It was quite sudden and I don't really know the whole story since I was at school but she is now living with my older brother. I have to say that overall the family has been much happier. I know it is a terrible thing to say but Charlet moving out is probably for the best for both Charlet and the family. I wish Charlet the best in whatever she does!

I have gone to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester a few times since my last post. I saw Dr. Reid on December 7th. He said that he believes he has found what is causing all of my jaw pain. He believes I have nerve damage from surgery and arthritis on both sides of my jaw. The treatment for this is not all that simple though. Apparently arthritis in the jaw is more complex than other joints. I have already tried everything that he recommended so the next step would be surgery. They would shave my jaw joint to make it smooth then add an implant. They said that they would have to do both sides separately so that means potentially two surgeries. Also, the surgery could possibly make it worse. It is sounding like the nerve damage is what it is so I have to deal with that. I have to say that even though this news isn't the best news I am SO glad to finally have an answer! I go back in a few days to talk to a surgen about the surgery to figure out if I will be having it or not.

My family and I went on a trip to Duluth to see the Bentleyville Tour of Lights. It was pretty awesome! The drive was about two hours but it was so fun! We got to walk through the lights and had hot chocolate and cookies, popcorn, and roasted marshmallows and this was all for free!

The Kids

Our Family

So about a week ago, my parents held a family fun night. They told us nothing about where we were going or what we were doing. It was a surprise. Well, turns out that mom and dad rented a limo to look at Christmas lights! We had a blast!
Hmm... Not as long as I thought... Maybe that because finals are over so my creative juices are just not there now till next semester.... Go winter break!