"Am I A Useful Thing?"

So, having been in hospital now for almost three weeks waiting for my sparkly new lungs, I've made a few observations. 

Natural sunlight is in fact necessary to human function and sanity. Loss of it results in loss of time awareness, such as:

"What time is it?" 

"10 AM" 

"Oh, I thought it was 6 in the evening." 

This also results in thinking either less or more time had passed than has really passed at all. Frustrating when waiting for an important event, for example, a lung transplant. Times like this really call for a TARDIS. 

Nurses have much better enunciation and handwriting then doctors. And manners. And personalities. And hair. 

The more you drink sub-par, watered-down hospital coffee, the better you think it tastes. Seriously, at 5 AM, it's simply fantastic.

But, most of all, the observation I've had the absolute pleasure of making the three weeks is that I simply have the most fantastic group of family and friends of any person on the planet. Hands down. Period.

When my illness first became intense, I went through a sort of culling period, where I realized that some couldn't handle my situation, and that I was going to have to come to terms with the fact that I was going to lose people during the progression of my illness. I think anyone who's gone through a serious health trauma has experienced this. While understandable, it can be shocking at first. 

But I soon recovered. I realized that the people that stayed with me would always be there, no matter what. And that quality is what really matters, not quantity. Life lesson. Check.

When Leland and I relocated to Houston for my transplant, I'll be honest, I was nervous. But, there was no need. The floodgates of our Christian brotherhood was opened to us, and we have been overwhelmed by the love and hospitality of all of our new friends!  We've had food, drinks, crafts, books, pampering supplies, games, cute stuffed animals, etc, etc, all delivered right to my room by smiling faces every single day. 

Not to mention all the calls, cards, emails, tags, and texts from my dear friends everyday.

My greatest fear I think was that I would sit in my hospital bed and life would go on and everyone would forget I was there and I would be alone. I said as much to our dear friend Sterling early on I this process. He told me that would never happen. And he was so right. 

Recently, some friends came and played a game with us where you guess a card you can't see on your head. You continue to ask the other players questions until you can figure out your item. One question Leland asked us about his card was, "Am I a useful thing?"

To my support system, my friends, family, congregation here in Houston and at home in Jasper, I say to you, you are a useful thing. The most amazing useful thing to me right now. And I thank you for all you do. And for who you are. And for being here through it all.

Nesting

What do you think of when you hear the term, "nesting?"  Most people have in their minds sparkling images of pregnant women laying out fluffy pink or blue blankets (or both).  Putting together the crib, Crocheting socks and hats, or trying to find that perfect place for the sock-monkey.  That is a pretty picture.  "Nesting."  How comfy.

Well, I've got news for you people. I'm experiencing a whole other form of nesting, and sock-monkies have nothing to do with it.

In early October, my husband and I relocated to "The Big City" for my transplant. Seeing as we were living in a town of about 8,000 people, this was a change.  I knew this would be a big adjustment for me, so my family suggested that we look at it as a chance to have a whole new redecorating adventure.  As I consider myself to be quite self-esteemed in that area, this seemed to take a bit of an edge off the thought of leaving my home and all the people in it.

Well, I'm here to tell you the that the redecorating has been completed, and the just-plain-ole "nesting" has set in.  And by "nesting," I mean reorganizing all the closets in the house at least 7 times so far, and I'm sure there's more to come.  Also, purchasing every natural and scent-free cleaning product available to mankind, and testing it on pretty much all surfaces in our new apartment. I've always been what my friends and family like to affectionately term "obsessive" about my household, but lately things have been in high gear.  I think the thought of having a transplant and coming home helpless, and not having everything in place beforehand, is somehow subconsciously controlling my "nesting."  

And that, my friends, is NOT a pretty picture.

And Then It Begins...

My name is Miriam Rhymes. I'm thirty years old, but I feel like I've already lived a lifetime. A bit cliche, right?

 I've been dealing with serious health problems my entire life, and now I'm waiting for a double lung transplant due to a disease called Obliterative Bronchiolitis. 

Why write a blog? Honestly, I wasn't really into it at first. Who wants to read another sad story about another ill person? Doesn't everyone get enough of that already?  This was my thinking. It was my amazing support system of friends and family that made me realize that my trials and my humor about my trials could help me help others.  And helping others is the most important thing a human being can do in this world.  Plus, I can make all the inappropriate cracks about myself and my disease that I want, and no one can say anything about it! Perk! So, if you want, follow my story. And maybe we can learn something from each other in the process.