Change is Always Difficult:
Lots has been happening lately and some big decisions need to be made soon. But first I will share some great news! Last week we hosted a fundraiser at a local restaurant, where we were guest-servers for the night. We had a door prize and a few raffles, and raised an amazing $2,120 that night! Thank you to everyone that helped us. Our servers, volunteers, customers, and the Right Spice for letting us serve there! The total for the event goes to the Princeton Great Strides Walk and all goes to the CF Foundation.
After the night, we all sat down and enjoyed a nice dinner to relax and celebrate! It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to do it again next year! I'm hoping to do one more fundrasier in the fall to supplement the Princeton Walk. A lot people don't realize we can fundraise all year round, that the site is up until the end of December.
Also, I have two contracts in escrow right now, but the BIG thing on my mind is: CF Clinic. I'm mainly nervous, because I'm going to a new clinic. Well, not completely new. I grew up going to this Clinic until I has 26 years old. I loved my clinic and loved my CF Pediatrician. Doctor C was always there for me. But, when we lived up in Chicago area it was really convenient to switch to Doc B. Especially since Doc C was retired. There are pros to both centers. Doc B in Chicago is so on top of research and creative ways to treat me. Which is needed, since I'm allergic to so many antibiotics, etc. But, I realized after the month of April, we just couldn't do it anymore.
The month of April I was in the hospital for 8 days and at home on IVs for another 8. Driving 4 hours one way to the Doctors every other month was hard enough. But when you are sick, it's hard driving yourself 4 hour to the doctor's. Otherwise Andrew has to take off work. Plus we pack my meds and food, not to mention the cost for gas. My hospital is 3.5 hours from our house too. So when I was admitted Andrew only got to spend one night with me there and he didn't get to see me the other 6 days. My sister came up for a night and my parents drove up to take me home. It was just soooo far from everyone. But, the icing on the cake was when my mediport wasn't working and if they couldn't fix it I would of needed surgery to replace it. I was sick enough for them to cancel an eye surgery that week and admit me, so I did not want to be alone if I needed surgery. If I was going to the CF center in the town where we live now, my hospital is 20 minutes from our house and less than an hour from most of my family.
It made me realize that too many crazy things happen with CF and that I cannot afford to have all my family so far away when I'm in the hospital. Andrew and I talked about it a long time, but ultimately he said it was my choice. While I do think Doc B is the bomb, I just can't keep up with the distance, too much happens. Why drive 8 hours and sit in a clinic for 2, when there is a great clinic and research center 20 minutes from our house? The doctors at our local clinic are new and I have heard great things. Plus, the rest of the staff is all the same and I LOVED each and every one of them. In fact, I really missed them and cried when I left them. I'm excited to see them all again. And while, I'm excited to have my CF doctor, hospital, and research center all in the town I live, I'm still beyond nervous. I really loved it at Doc B's too, but I can't keep up with it.
We moved to Central Illinois and away from Chicago in August, but so far I had been lucky. This last hospital stay made me realize how far apart from Andrew I would be every time I'm sick. But the thing that really drives this decision, is thinking about how it impacts my future kids. Andrew and I both want a family, and do I want my kids growing up driving all the way to chicago for Doctor's all the time, or being 4 hours away from their mom for weeks at a time while I'm in the hospital. No, I don't. If I was hospitalized in Peoria, my kids could just come up every evening and see me.
I'm not sure how tomorrow will go and I'm very nervous. It's been 5 years since I have been at the local CF Clinic. It's a huge decision to switch care centers and doctors, so I'm hoping I make the right decision.
I'm also nervous to figure out what is going on with my bottom right rib. It has hurt for the last 3 weeks. The rib feels bruised, it hurts when I touch it or cough. It's not my lungs, It doesn't hurt when I breathe in deep and I'm not sick. So, I'm thinking the bottom rib must be bruised or something. Hoping to get some answers about that... Keep you all posted tomorrow. Fingers the transition goes smoothly and I have made the right decision.
Lots has been happening lately and some big decisions need to be made soon. But first I will share some great news! Last week we hosted a fundraiser at a local restaurant, where we were guest-servers for the night. We had a door prize and a few raffles, and raised an amazing $2,120 that night! Thank you to everyone that helped us. Our servers, volunteers, customers, and the Right Spice for letting us serve there! The total for the event goes to the Princeton Great Strides Walk and all goes to the CF Foundation.
After the night, we all sat down and enjoyed a nice dinner to relax and celebrate! It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to do it again next year! I'm hoping to do one more fundrasier in the fall to supplement the Princeton Walk. A lot people don't realize we can fundraise all year round, that the site is up until the end of December.
Also, I have two contracts in escrow right now, but the BIG thing on my mind is: CF Clinic. I'm mainly nervous, because I'm going to a new clinic. Well, not completely new. I grew up going to this Clinic until I has 26 years old. I loved my clinic and loved my CF Pediatrician. Doctor C was always there for me. But, when we lived up in Chicago area it was really convenient to switch to Doc B. Especially since Doc C was retired. There are pros to both centers. Doc B in Chicago is so on top of research and creative ways to treat me. Which is needed, since I'm allergic to so many antibiotics, etc. But, I realized after the month of April, we just couldn't do it anymore.
The month of April I was in the hospital for 8 days and at home on IVs for another 8. Driving 4 hours one way to the Doctors every other month was hard enough. But when you are sick, it's hard driving yourself 4 hour to the doctor's. Otherwise Andrew has to take off work. Plus we pack my meds and food, not to mention the cost for gas. My hospital is 3.5 hours from our house too. So when I was admitted Andrew only got to spend one night with me there and he didn't get to see me the other 6 days. My sister came up for a night and my parents drove up to take me home. It was just soooo far from everyone. But, the icing on the cake was when my mediport wasn't working and if they couldn't fix it I would of needed surgery to replace it. I was sick enough for them to cancel an eye surgery that week and admit me, so I did not want to be alone if I needed surgery. If I was going to the CF center in the town where we live now, my hospital is 20 minutes from our house and less than an hour from most of my family.
It made me realize that too many crazy things happen with CF and that I cannot afford to have all my family so far away when I'm in the hospital. Andrew and I talked about it a long time, but ultimately he said it was my choice. While I do think Doc B is the bomb, I just can't keep up with the distance, too much happens. Why drive 8 hours and sit in a clinic for 2, when there is a great clinic and research center 20 minutes from our house? The doctors at our local clinic are new and I have heard great things. Plus, the rest of the staff is all the same and I LOVED each and every one of them. In fact, I really missed them and cried when I left them. I'm excited to see them all again. And while, I'm excited to have my CF doctor, hospital, and research center all in the town I live, I'm still beyond nervous. I really loved it at Doc B's too, but I can't keep up with it.
We moved to Central Illinois and away from Chicago in August, but so far I had been lucky. This last hospital stay made me realize how far apart from Andrew I would be every time I'm sick. But the thing that really drives this decision, is thinking about how it impacts my future kids. Andrew and I both want a family, and do I want my kids growing up driving all the way to chicago for Doctor's all the time, or being 4 hours away from their mom for weeks at a time while I'm in the hospital. No, I don't. If I was hospitalized in Peoria, my kids could just come up every evening and see me.
I'm not sure how tomorrow will go and I'm very nervous. It's been 5 years since I have been at the local CF Clinic. It's a huge decision to switch care centers and doctors, so I'm hoping I make the right decision.
I'm also nervous to figure out what is going on with my bottom right rib. It has hurt for the last 3 weeks. The rib feels bruised, it hurts when I touch it or cough. It's not my lungs, It doesn't hurt when I breathe in deep and I'm not sick. So, I'm thinking the bottom rib must be bruised or something. Hoping to get some answers about that... Keep you all posted tomorrow. Fingers the transition goes smoothly and I have made the right decision.
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