Judge Her When You've Walked In Her Shoes
So all day today I was working on my video gift of photographs that I have taken over the past few years - that I plan on giving my friend this upcoming weekend. As I was sitting at the computer listening to my music through my iPhone - a call came through from area code (515)...I figured I would answer it and say you have the wrong number. But it wasn't the wrong number - it was my cousin Michael.
Now Michael is a few years older than me and more like my older brother than my cousin because I grew up around him all of the time (and lived with my aunt - his mom - for a while too when I was younger). Anyhow, Mike was calling to check in on me - he had been talking with his mom and she had expressed concern over me and my health - so Mike figured he would pick up the phone and talk to me directly about it.
I filled him on everything that has been going on for the past 9 months or so - that I am basically taking one day at a time - some days are bad and some days are good. Today was a good day. That made him happy. He was also happy to hear that I was at a good place mentally right now - because he knew that medical stuff can tend to knock you down.
After we finished up about my stuff - he laughed and said so do you want to hear what I am dealing with? I said of course - not expecting to hear what I was about to hear. I had not realized that he had been sick for the past three years - that he had been diagnosed with a rare condition called Burning Mouth. His mouth constantly feels like he has just eaten a habanero pepper. He had also had three MRIs - which came back abnormal and showed masses in his brain. Recently he finally convinced a doctor to prescribe him a medication that he had read an article about - he started taking it around Thanksgiving and is seeing an improvement in his symptoms.
We talked for over an hour. Discussing in a lot more detail than what I have shared here - everything that he has been through - medications, doctors, tests, etc. - and how it has impacted his life. He will be seeing a new doctor tomorrow. My cousin has done his own research and found software that he was able to map out the nerves and arteries from where his symptoms are occurring to his brain - and they lead directly to the portions of his brain that according to the MRI are now dead.
As we were ending our call - he laughed as he told me about the three fairies dancing around him (his wife, daughter and son - were all wearing fairy wings) - and an even bigger laugh was shared when he told me his son was walking up the stairs and oops - he could see his pickle! Darwin wasn't wearing a diaper, lol. Michael laughed and said I have a pickle fairy dancing around me. These are the types of moments I am glad he can enjoy.
There have been moments in my medical health journey over the years - where I get knocked down and get very close to slipping into a depression. It is extremely frustrating to not be healthy. It's even more frustrating when the doctors do not know what is wrong with you - or sometimes just as worse, saying they do when they don't. I try my hardest to not let those moments completely overtake my life and my thoughts - sometimes I am successful - sometimes I am not. What I do know - is that there is always someone out there who is dealing with a lot more than I am - that I need to be thankful that my issues are only what they are. I couldn't imagine dealing with my mouth constantly burning for three years and the side effects from all the medication attempts. Not that I ever want to settle in my battle with my health nor do I want to let this body win - but I know it could be worse - that if I had to walk in someone elses shoes, I may wish I only had to deal with the issues that I do.
"When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the shoe leather has passed into the fiber of your body. I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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