For Mother's Day

As my second post on this blog, it is long overdue. Sorry, I haven't had any inspiration and I've suffered from extreme fatigue for a long time, now. I blame it on the pain in my belly which is exhausting. I just haven't felt good, not enough of a flare to put me in the hospital, but enough to keep me down. I'm feeling a little better now, and I hope to write more post in the future.

In honor of Mother's Day, I'd like to say a few words about my mother in relation to my IBD. I'm one of the lucky ones. She has been through a lot with me and, as we like to say, "We're in this together."

While I can't speak to how my mother felt when I was first diagnosed, I was scared half to death and I'm sure she was, too. My first night in the hospital, as I think I have already mentioned, while I was having a painful blood transfusion, she stayed with me and read to me from my favorite book at the time, "Restaurant at the End of the Universe." She has helped me deal with doctor's, often making phone calls to them because I have an unreasonable dislike for the telephone, (I've gotten better at it.) and she still goes with me to my GI appointments, we've done it for this long why stop now. :p  She has been my best advocate, though I can't overlook my father's role, but this is about mothers. When I'm in the hospital she takes the 12 hour night shift, my father the day. I can't begin to tell you how helpful and stress reducing it is to have someone there to advocate with the nurses and doctors. She's also there in the middle of the night when I need to go to the bathroom, can't get out of bed by myself and can't wait for the nurse to come. Mostly, she is just there, always, in and out of the hospital. She learned to be a short order cook when I was first diagnosed and had a restricted diet, and she has learned to cook gluten free now that I can't eat wheat. She is empathetic and selfless, she is my first and best friend. I could not have survived this journey without her.

I love you Mom