http://www.gofundme.com/cr9jng
Hey folks, it’s been a minute since I last updated you on my condition and today April 26, 2015 marks the one year anniversary since onset of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. What a better time than now to let you know what’s been going on?
Thankfully, the weather warming up is starting to alleviate my pain somewhat and making it easier to leave the house; the winter was pretty brutal as I’m highly sensitive to frigid temperatures. With that I have recently started going to the Maps Pain Clinic in Edina to see a new physician and try out more modalities of healing. In the next month I will be trying to start Physical Therapy again. Last time I had to stop after the first session due to long lasting pain afterwards that I simply couldn’t get under control. This time around, we’re going to do PT in the pool, a type of water therapy. Crossing my fingers that this allows me to start moving my body again as I’ve lost an extreme amount of muscle and have become quite stiff as a result of not being able to get exercise. Along with pool therapy, I am also scheduled to begin behavioral therapy. This is a specific type of counseling with a therapist who specializes in working with people with chronic pain. I’m looking forward to talking to someone who might be able to provide a different type of support I haven’t been able to find within conventional medicine.
Throughout the winter and spring I have continued to work with my holistic healers as well. Cynthia Thomas of Sacred Journey Healing Arts has been of major help with herbal remedies and massage therapy. Ben Vincent of Vincent Yoga has been working with me to introduce Ayurvedic lifestyle methods along with Yoga Nidra/meditation. His intuitive and skills have been incredible in helping me understand my pain and cope better. I’m unsure where I’d be without their help.
As you may remember I did about seven weeks of Art Therapy last summer with Kyra Schugt who volunteered her knowledge and time to introduce oil pastels and the ways healing through art. Since then, I have started down an entirely new path with my art. I can no longer do refined tattoo art I once did so comfortably because I simply cannot hold on to my drawing/painting utensils for long enough without my hands cramping. This is why I am so lucky to have found Kyra and oil pastels. It takes me a very long time to complete a single drawing, but I still do it and I have found a major outlet through my art I never knew existed. I enjoy doing my abstract pieces and animal portraits if you ever want to commission me for a pet portrait I would love to discuss that!
Lastly, the not so great news is that I’m still only receiving general assistance and have been denied disability twice. This means I’m truly unable to financially support myself and have had to seek out a lawyer whom I'm now working with to hopefully receive disability at some point in the future. Jacque continues to support the two of us while I heal and we could use a little financial assistance again. In the past year we got close to HALF our $5,000 goal which is great! However, I’m here today asking for any donations you may be able to throw my way to help alleviate some of the chronic financial stress we’re under. Any bit counts! Even $5 or sharing my GoFund me link.
Apparently, I had a lot to update you all on! Sorry for the length and thank you to all who took the time to read the state of my current events. Your support has and continues to be greatly appreciated. I’m hoping this summer goes much better than 2014!