Early last year, I knew there was something not quite right with my body, but foolishly I ignored it. By November I had lost more than 20 pounds and could not eat solid foods. When I finally decided to go to my PCP, it was at the height of covid and would not see me in the office because of a cough I had.
My dear friend Derrick rushed me to the hospital the evening of 11/9/2020 and I was admitted immediately. I remained in the hospital all of November and December. This was tough because I could not have visitors due to covid restrictions. I thank the amazing team at Ascension St. John for becoming my surrogate family each day. By December, I still could not walk due to being so weak and my legs swelling like tree trunks because of the massive amount of IV fluids. By mid December I was in rehab learning to regain my strength. I just wanted to go home. Even with my face being 3 shades darker, and still thin, I was released.
The moment I decided to get home and exercise, begin eating was when my mom picked me up from the hospital and didn’t recognize me. It of course was not her fault because she had not seen me in 2 months. I cried inside and was determined to get better for us all!
I came home with physical therapy and a feeding tube. Quickly I regained my strength enough to walk well and go up and down my stairs. Sadly my feeding tube became infected and I returned to the hospital…but not for long. It was removed and I began my outpatient chem regiment, which would last until June of this year.