Saying so long to the 70’s

As I watch Rosh Hashanah services, I laugh when a rabbi says, “Say good bye to the 70’s. The 80’s are here.” This, of course is in reference to the start of God’s new year, which is the year 5780. The last ten years have been the 5770’s.

As I reflect back on the last ten years, it is amazing to review all the life changing situations which have arisen. Ten years ago, I was fighting to hold on to my life. My only diagnosis at the time was postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. I was assured if I made some lifestyle changes—a high salt diet, beta blockers and compression stockings—I would be on the road to better health. When I was given a medicine to help with my daily migraines, I suffered a stroke. It took several months to regain muscle strength and coordination. Despite my best efforts, my health continued to decline. I tried and tried to do everything possible to feel better, but the harder I tried, the sicker I became. I finally had to give up everything and go live with my parents.

For the next year I was bedridden. Any time I stood up, I blacked out. I often resorted to crawling on my stomach to the bathroom. The search for answers yielded nothing. My gastrointestinal tract was the next victim. My gall bladder became inflamed, infected and nearly ruptured before it was removed. My intestines stopped working. I first had a jejunum (intestinal) feeding tube. When that failed, I next had a PICC line and received IV hydration and nutrition. I was so grateful during this time, God lead me to the condition called Mitochondrial Disease. Now I finally knew what was wrong with me. The heartbreaking part was there is no cure. One can use supplements and herbs to support the mitochondria, but nothing will ever stop the disease. It is a chronic condition which will mostly likely continue to progress.

Skipping over the next five years which were filled with bowel obstructions, another stroke, continued muscle weakness and pancreatitis attacks, I suddenly developed difficulty breathing. I was assured it was just asthma. Two weeks later when I was in the emergency department in acute respiratory distress, I was told I needed to use a bilevel postive airway pressure (BiPAP) machine to help me breathe. Very quickly my breathing deteriorated. I soon was on death’s doorstep, desperately needing a tracheostomy and invasive ventilation. Thankfully, God moved a few mountains, and I was able to receive a tracheotomy and was started on invasive ventilation without many complications.

And that’s where my life has been for the last several years. I have continued to fight pancreatitis attacks, have had many anaphylactic reactions and have been plagued with nine or ten hospital acquired lung infections. I am still fighting one of those bacteria called pseudomonas which has kept me in the hospital numerous times this last year. (As I write this, IV antibiotics are being administered via an IV drip into my PICC line in hopes of finally eradicating this extremely resistant bug.)

The 70’s have been a time of great trial. I am praying the 80’s will be a time of great rejoicing, no admissions to the hospital and stable health. May 5780 be our best year yet! Shana tova (Happy New Year)!