Hooray!

I finally found my username and password for this blog!  Well, let me update you on my health:

I'm feeling GREAT!  I'm probably the healthiest I've been in years.  Or at least the strongest.  I got out of health care (except for the volunteering I do at a free medical clinic) and took a job at the local airport.  I work about 17 hours a week.  I work the bag room, counter and gate and work on the little jets outside.  It's fun (sometimes) but the real benefit is the free, (albeit standby, space available) airfare.  I've been there a year now and flew to Dubai, Sweden and Spain since starting work.  The company I work for is owned by Delta so that is the airline I fly on.  Oh, I fly home to see my parents and they can fly up to see me.  The kids and my husband can fly for free, too.  Sometimes it works out great and other times we get bumped.  Part of the adventure, I suppose.  

So, I remember starting this job last year and having to lift 50 lb. bags and remember thinking "there was a time when I could not have done this job."  I've come so far.  My hair grew back fast so I decided to just let it grow.  It's to my shoulders now.  I sleep really well and don't get short of breath.  I'm grateful for my health and don't take it for granted.  Gosh, I'm so glad I'm able to blog on here again.  I still have my other blog, too.  But this one has always seemed a little special to me.  :)

Merry Christmas!

Two years ago, I was about to embark on my treatment.  I was a wreck, emotionally.  The anxiety was awful even though the paxil had helped some.  

One year ago, I was about to find out if I had achieved SVR (sustained virological response).  I was definitely feeling better (no depression or fatigue), but was probably a little anxious about the upcoming blood test.  Well, I did get SVR and continued to have a wonderful, healthy year.

This year, I find myself savoring everyday and truly appreciating my health and enjoying my family.  I have a new job that gets me out of the house and it's physically demanding.  I love it that I'm able to do the job, realizing that during treatment, it would have been impossible.  I feel so blessed and content right now.  Truly, the best Christmas present.


So, no matter where you are on your journey, take care.  Merry Christmas to you and yours and may you enjoy good health in the year to come.

Nothing new to report here.  I'm still feeling great.  We recently moved to a farm and I got a new job--just 20 hr or less per week--so not too bad.  

Oh, I need to get a new email for this blog since we moved.  For now, if you have questions please leave them in the comments and I will get back to you through there.

Back from Spain

I'm back and had a lovely time. The weather couldn't have been better. The food was yummy, too. I'm still amazed at my energy level. Life is good.

Wow!

I received an email recently from a lady in the Boston area. There is an online community for Health Activists called WEGOHealth. Anyway, I was contacted by them regarding this blog. She said my blog was listed on their site by a blogger as one of the Hepatitis blogs to read. I was invited to be part of an advisory board in Boston in September, but I can't make it. I'm so honored and humbled. I just hope I can keep the blog going! I'm feeling so great now that I'm really a broken record at this point. The one new thing is our support group is moving to the first Tuesday of the month and will be meeting at 7 pm. I still plan to go to support R who will be retreating in the next few months. And of course, we hope more will join us.

Thank you, everyone, for encouraging me to encourage others!!!

It's just a dream now---the fatigue, depression, worry. I continue to feel great and, occasionally, get an email from someone with a question. I love being able to help and support people going through what I went through.

I won't make it to the next support meeting in town. I've got good news! I'm going on a trip. I'll be in Barcelona on a girl trip! It's nice to have something to look forward to. :))

I met with the support group tonight. We all seem to be doing OK. R will probably wait until the new drugs come out to treat again. S is feeling great and still enjoying her SVR status. I'm a little stressed right now with the closing of our property and my mother-in-law going into a nursing home on the same day. I still feel like going through the Hep C stuff made me look at all of life's ups and downs differently. It's all fluid--what's good today can be bad tomorrow. Life changes with a phone call some days. It's keeping it all in perspective that is the hard, however important, part.

Tonight we were going to drive 45 min to another town to meet with a new guy. He canceled this afternoon so we met at the regular place. At least he called. I think the doctor was twisting his arm to meet with us. I met him on Friday when the clinic started a new group of Hep C patients. I agree with the doctor, he could use some company. Oh well. We are here if he wants some help but we can't help people if they don't want it.