4th GTBAD Letter

October 22, 2001

 

 

Dear Friends and Family,

 

Hi! Sorry this is getting out to you so late. What a hectic year this has been. We just moved into a new house. It's the most beautiful house I've ever seen. The worst part is that it doesn't feel like home yet, but my mom reassures me that by Thanksgiving it will be Home Sweet Home!

 

This year has been filled with good and bad. In March, I finally started to gain some weight. I had maintained for a couple of months, so my doctors finally let me get my mediport out. I was so happy. The bad news was that two weeks later I had my gallbladder removed because of gallstones, and when the doctors were in there trying to get some stones that were stuck they gave me pancreatitis. I just want to inform you that as you know I've been through a lot of painful times, but none of them were as painful as that. While I was in the hospital they found that I have sleep apnea, and so at night I sleep on a little machine called a Bipap. A month later we had a follow up with a lung doctor to see how the Bipap was working and if I was sleeping better. They did a couple of tests, and they found that my lungs only function at 24% of what they should. This was a huge shock because we never even thought anything could be wrong with my lungs. A week later we were lying on a beach in HAWAII! No, we actually were planning on taking a trip to Hawaii this year so we just decided to leave earlier then expected. Hawaii was fabulous, marvelous, gorgeous, and yes it really is paradise. I did great there, and I got to do everything I wanted. When we got back we found that I had gained 4 pounds! So the search was on to find why I had gained the extra weight because my eating habits had been the same. It finally came down to that I was using all my calories to breath, and so I'm happy to say that I'm on oxygen and gaining weight. I am almost up to 100 pounds. I feel much better, and am active a lot more too.

 

Now that I got all the medical stuff out of the way, I am living the most beautiful life ever. Scott graduated from high school in June and is now attending college at CU in Boulder. It's funny how when one sibling goes away the house automatically becomes quieter. I love being an only child! Yet I really do miss him. I started school in August and it turns out that I lettered in academics last year. I am taking all honors classes, and plan on joining a club called the B-9 club at school. They work to promote cancer awareness. A week ago I was accepted into the National Honor Society, and I am starting to take the college exam preparation tests. The best part though is that in August I turned 15 1/2 which meant that I could get my drivers permit. I started Master Drive and am almost finished. I love driving, and am always asking my parents to drive.

 

This year has been great overall, because I am feeling so much better. I hope that this year you still celebrate on the 22nd because you really can't ever know what's going to happen. I am glad that everyone I know doesn't take life fore granted and that I am able to share my life with you. This year I want you to share this letter with someone you care about, and tell him or her why you are Glad to Be Alive today. I hope your year was as good as mine, and that next year you can help me celebrate my 5th Glad to Be Alive Day.

 

Love,

 

Emily

 

 

 

 

Again, I understand my grammar wasn't correct, but I missed a lot of school. Grammar was never up there on things to learn. Cell biology however was. :-) It's crazy looking back at this letter. Such a big year for me medically.

For the original version of this letter, click here.