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Showing posts from October, 2019

vascular compressions: a day in the life

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 A month or so ago, Theodore was hanging out with me in the living room. And out of nowhere he asked why I had to have this rare health issue. Wanted to know how I got it and how common it is. I explained that I was just born this way. Then we searched to see what the internet said for how common it is. It said about 2 out of 100,000 people. This is referring to median arcuate ligament syndrome, which is when there is compression of the celiac artery and you have symptoms because of it. They think anywhere from 10-25% of people have the compression without symptoms. After I told him about the 2 out of 100,000 he immediately said, “So you could be the ONLY person in Mankato who has this!?” I had never thought about it that way, but he’s right, I could be. Though as we’ve witnessed with my journey, it’s ridiculously challenging to rule out all the things and get a diagnosis. So how many people struggle with MALS and have no idea?! Theodore was just so sincere in all his questions. He t

rise up.

Several months ago I was on my drive home from an appointment in the Cities and the song "Rise Up" by Andra Day came on. The song had been on my playlist already for quite some time, but I never really absorbed what she was saying until that day. It spoke to me in so many ways. It is me. You're broken down and tired Of living life on a merry-go-round And you can't find the fighter But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out Move mountains We gonna walk it out And move mountains And I'll rise up I'll rise like the day I'll rise up I'll rise unafraid I'll rise up And I'll do it a thousand times again And I'll rise up High like the waves I'll rise up In spite of the ache I'll rise up And I'll do it a thousand times again For you For you For you For you When the silence isn't quiet And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe And I know you feel like dying But I promise we'll take the world to its feet Move mountains