Life in a Tank

[edelricson]

Some more recent photos, SPS growing like crazy gap is out of control, Xenia also everywhere but not too extreme, lots of Kenya trees, lion is doing well but will only accept live food. Mostly chromis and damsels. Montis galore, fragging out corals frequently now. More updates soon sorry for the delays been insanely busy, not giving the tank as much love as I would like.

[jessicakayhoover-blog]

After Tragedy and Miracles Mother’s Journey is Just Beginning

  It was a day in December I will never forget, the day I nearly died.

  There are no words to describe the horror I felt waking up in a cold hospital room, attached to tubes and monitors.  I knew some time had passed since I set out for a jog one afternoon; although I would never have guessed it had been five days.

See the ABC10News story covering this tragedy

http://www.10news.com/news/local-jogger-recounts-miracle-recovery

  For five long days my children, friends and family were in agony as I languished in a coma, unable to breathe on my own.  As a single mom, my teenage daughters were next of kin. They would soon be faced with the decision to pull the plug on the very machines keeping me alive.  My daughters and two sons, fourteen and ten were soon to be motherless.  At just thirty-seven, I was on the brink of death with little to no chance of survival.  

The first words I heard upon awakening were from my cardiologist,

  “You died, and you shouldn’t have survived,” he said.  

  He then explained a virus attacked my heart causing me to go into full cardiac arrest.  I was so confused and couldn’t understand how something like this could happen to me.  This is the kind of thing you hear on the news, the kind of thing that happens to other people, not me.  I was in disbelief; I was in a coma for five days yet had no memory of this tragedy.  It would take months for me to come to terms with the gravity of what I had gone through.  

  As I approach the one year anniversary of this life changing event, I realize I have been on my own Hero’s journey for many years now.  I always knew I was destined to do something big, really big!  I always enjoyed helping others, but knew I was destined to do this on a much larger scale.  As a single working mother of 4, I was bogged down with life’s circumstances; afraid to take a risk and pursue my dreams.  

  I sacrificed my own self-care to care for my children all the while earning both a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree. My ex-husband did not provide for my kids monetarily or emotionally placing an enormous amount of pressure on me.  Providing for my children was my top priority.

  This past year has been one of the best and worst years in my life.  I walked right up to the threshold of death, leaned over, took a peek and turned back.  I faced man’s greatest fear, death. Out of this experience has come a new life. Fear no longer has a grip on me. I can now clearly see my calling and I’m headed towards it with vigor and passion. This is the part on my Hero’s journey where I have taken possession of the treasure, yet still at risk of losing it.  

  Nearly one year later, my heart is working at less than 30%.

  At this time, I am unable to manage a full work week.  My state disability payments run out in just seven days, leaving me with no income. There is the option to apply for federal disability benefits (Social Security benefits) and my medical condition does qualify me to do so however; it is a lengthy process and I refuse to live the rest of my life on a fixed income.  I have decided to re-work my life instead of resigning to it.

    I have become a Certified Life Coach and will use my experiences and gifts to help others through the struggles I once suffered. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States.  I plan to use my experience as a platform to educate women on heart disease and bring awareness to the importance of learning CPR (it saved my life).  This is my purpose; to educate, inspire, and empower others and I accept this call.  

  I am enthusiastically on the path of my Hero’s Journey and I need your help to get there.  As the holidays approach, I am painfully aware of my financial circumstances. Several months ago I experienced the nation wrapping their arms around me and bestowing grace upon me however; I still need your help.  Halfway to my goal, I’m hoping and praying the grace continues to pour in so I may continue to support my family while I build my business.

Family at Risk

Jessica is on the verge of finding herself (and her children) homeless or without health insurance because state disability does not cover her living expenses and she is already behind, struggling to make arrangements with creditors until she is able to go back to work. She needs a safety net. If you could find it in your heart to help Jessica, you would be investing in someone who truly has a lot to contribute. She truly needs financial assistance to overcome circumstances over which she has very little control and to keep her debts from mounting. This will alleviate stress and allow her to focus on healing before she goes back to work.

Please Help

We are hoping to raise money to help pay uncovered medical bills, high monthly insurance premiums and co-pays, back and current rent, and food for the next 6 months, giving Jessica time to truly heal without undue stress. Any donation, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated. Let’s join together to keep this family from falling through the cracks! At the very least, would you please share the link to Jessica’s story so that others can know of her struggle? It would mean so much!

Visit Jessica’s Gofundme Fundraiser

https://www.gofundme.com/yeap9k

[edelricson]

Every little bit helps, this wonderful mother has a lot on her plate and no shortage of obstacles.

Please help share her story! There's also some more info on the gofundme page not seen here

[edelricson]

Quick update and a full tank shot. I do plan on removing the clownfish and the mandarin, its just a matter of catching them. The lion is just barely too small to eat them yet, but when he gets hungry he thinks about it for sure. He's been in here for almost 2 weeks now and he's already all over frozen foods. He doesn't even think about eating anything but maybe some pods for at least 3 days after he eats, but I have given him decent portions

[edelricson]

A couple recent photos

[edelricson]

The setup process of the 110g was rough, had to drain it after cycling new live sand and dry rock + a few mature rocks for about a week and a half, so that I could fix a pinhole leak in the corner. After draining it i refilled with an additional 80 gallons or so and the rest of my mature rocks, corals, fish, and inverts. I built the canopy, and dropped it on my foot... But its doing well, I need to take it back down to sand it and stain it.

[edelricson]

It was a long and crazy setup process. These are pics from the early setup and cycling of the 110g aquarium. In the last images with the canopy I built in them you will see the water drained very low because there was a pin hole leak I had to fix while I'm still able to drain the tank that much.

[edelricson]

Unfortunate news. My 50 gallon reef here... The seam broke on the tank somewhere and all the water came out. No fish were harmed in this catastrophe. Several corals lost their lives, a few others were damaged pretty bad, but have made amazing recovery so far. The 40 gallon here is being borrowed from a friend, the 30 gallon was my frag tank. Just got a 100 gallon, and I'm moving. So the 100 gallon will be setup at the new place soon to being cycling.

[edelricson]

More update photos and a well needed full tank shot

[edelricson]

Far from the best pictures, tank is overrun by little feather duster worms, their growth has nearly stopped since switching my filter media to clear fx pro, but still need to pull some of them out of the corals. More changes and updates to come soon, new powerheads and corals to be seen soon.

[edelricson]

More of the new corals added, a green torch, a flower pot coral, sunset montipora, fire and ice zoanthids, and a blue/red/purple mushroom coral

[edelricson]

Acropora. Comes in so many shapes and colors, love em. Got 4 new frags here and an established colony just some of my black Friday corals ;) more black Friday purchases to be posted soon

[edelricson]

Some more additions, finally got a nice green bubbletip anemone, the red mandarin dragonette I've always wanted and a nice red piece of setosa.

[edelricson]

A quick look at the tank, always changing ;)

[edelricson]

Some new corals freshly dipped, acclimated, and now photo acclimating in the sand bed. Got a millepora, and 2 other awesome acroporas, and an agave palythoa!

[edelricson]

Some recent photos of the tank, moved some things around made my own combo rock with 4 sets of palys and a baby Kenya tree. A lot of the coral has been growing out really fast since the led upgrade! Really enjoying the way everything is starting to fill in :)

[edelricson]

Check out this awesome blastomussa coral for sale right now for only 50 bucks! Blastos are some of my favorite corals, especially the vibrant ones, I bought 2 heads myself for 20 each and I've already seen some great growth and about 5 other small heads have already grown after a few months! Free pick up in southern California and 40 for overnight priority shipping

[edelricson]

Recently obtained this beautiful piece of favites an awesome neon colored brain coral