Hey, Y'all!
I just had the most wonderful Sunday and Monday! Maryjane and Mike came to visit on their way from the Carolina coast back to Michigan. I met MJ on this forum 3 1/2 years ago, just after my diagnosis. We discovered we would be at House at the same time for our surgeries--hers was translab for failed Gamma Knife and mine was Middle Fossa. MJ had already gone thru 9 months of balance issues and had lost most hearing from the GK.
We discovered we were both sailors and feisty super-active women. She had already had her surgery and was back at Seton Hall (the guesthouse) when I checked in. We had dinner that night in the dining hall with all the other ANS.
I went through my surgery and she and Mike visited me in the hospital every day. After I was discharged, I stayed at Seton for another 5 days and they were right down the hall. We went to dinner every night (mashed potatoes--YUMMMMM!!!) and had a great time swapping sea stories as most sailors do.
We continued to correspond for a while until my incapacitating migraines made it really hard to communicate with anyone, but MJ didn't give up on me and continued to send cards, letters, emails, and good thoughts my way.
Meanwhile, she and Mike embarked on their Big Cruise. Thrugh the Great Lakes and the Erie Canal and down the ICU with the intention of getting down to Florida before hurricane season. In Virginia, Mike suffered a mild heart attack and they were sidelined in Virginia for the winter. He's fine now and they decided to dry-dock their boat and head backe to Michigan for the summer and will be back in the fall to pick up their boat, Dragonquest and head for somewhere warm. I'm trying to talk them into heading for the Virgins, but they'll probably cruise the Bahamas first.
Anyway--after a fabulous cold weather cook-out Sunday night, we all went hiking on Monday. It was my first uphill hike--I had walked the mile-loop around the lake last fall, but we hiked about 2 miles up to the overlook at Linville Falls--a spectacular gorge view. I have 2 telescoping hiking sticks that I kind of use like ski poles. I managed to get up that mountain and back down in one piece. YAY ME!!!!
Maryjane is totally my hero--you should see her move. You would never ever know that she was minus one balance nerve by watching her. I guess from all that boating she has compensated really well, and went into this whole deal being a very active person to begin with. She is living proof to all of us that we can overcome balance issues with determination and hard work.
It was really funny arranging ourselves so we could hear each other--we're both lefties (left ear/no hear)
Anyway--I'm all inspired to keep fighting and training my residual balance systems to be over-achievers--as I hope this little story inspires anyone who reads it!!
Captain Deb
