Christmas on Monday – it’s hard to believe that time has gone this fast. My year has been an incredible journey, if there’s one word for 2006 it would have to be “unexpected.” Here’s a wrap up, along with the newest report and the expectations for the new year:
2006 in Review:
January – Working at Best Buy, snowboarding and having a blast. Can’t imagine life any different.
February – I receive an email from missionaries in Papua New Guinea asking for short term tech support help.
March – Begin considering a short term tech support trip to PNG and beyond.
June – Receive an email and a photograph that reads, “my name is Eric…”
July – Leave Spokane to meet Eric and visit friends and family out East.
August – Get the OK from the doctors and finalize plans for the tech support trip.
September – Leave for Sydney, spend 5 days, given a decision: hospital care in Northern Australia or return home. I return to Spokane.
November – First diagnosis: ulcerative colitis. I begin treatment for four weeks.
December – Meds from the UC have given me signs of pancreatitis. Taken off all fats, wheat, and lactose, as well as the UC meds with the hopes of not making things worse. Scope number two to check organ functions.
It’s almost Christmas. Thanks to a strict no-fat diet (read: cream of rice and apple sauce) for ten days, I managed to skip any need for hospitalization or further treatment for pancreatitis. I’ve been pulled off all the good pain killers but have been given the go ahead to eat, eat, eat. I can’t tell you how great it is to be able to eat whatever I want whenever I want!
I am still in pain but it is very mild compared to the last few weeks, and Dr. Blake says if I can pull through four weeks of pain and regaining lost weight, we’ll be in business. The warning to all this, or perhaps the inspiration, is that any further weight loss or intense pain with eating will land me in the children’s hospital – an experience I’d really rather avoid.
I’m so thankful to be able to smile at Christmas time, to be able to enjoy meals with family and friends, to be feeling better. Thank you for your continued prayers and support – you’ve helped to make a very long struggle fly by… thanks.
- Jess
3 Comments
December 24, 2006 at 1:13 am
Hey Jess,
Merry Christmas. Are you looking foreward to Christmas? I am. So is Eric still coming to town for the New Year? Well I have to go let Josh have a turn on the computer.
Love your little sister,
Brittany
December 24, 2006 at 4:09 pm
Merry Christmas
December 24, 2006 at 10:39 pm
i should send you really fatty cookies for christmas. or just chunks of fat. with jimmies.
merry christmas jess, i’m sorry i’m not there to be with you this year. i hope you have a good time with the folks. i’m currently in-between cellphones (i’m giving G a new one for christmas, but it’s currently under my number so all calls must be stealth until tomorrow!) but i will call you when i can!
much love!