the abbreviated version

 I am 35 years old and I live in Statesboro, Georgia but I am currently preparing to move to Cleveland, Georgia with my husband Sam and our 4 dogs. I am looking forward to starting a new job as a speech language pathologist in the medical setting this summer. I recently finished a very long journey of finishing graduate school. This was a life-long dream and a huge unexpected blessing given my health battles over the past 34 years. 

I was born with chronic pancreatic disease and was eventually diagnosed with pancreatic insufficiency at the age of five. I often referred to myself as “that sick girl” when I was growing up and in college, given I missed a lot of school and was constantly at the doctor or in hospitals. 

At 19 years of age, I began to have idiopathic acute pancreatitis which eventually evolved into chronic pancreatitis. There were several years in which I spent more days in the hospital, than out of the hospital. 

11 years ago I had a total pancreatectomy and islet cell transplant surgery in an attempt to ease physical pain and long stays in hospitals. Unfortunately, I had many complications and things did not go as planned for the next 10 years.

In the years after the original surgery I had countless surgeries including surgeries to remove recurring ulcers, bowel obstruction surgeries, and a total colectomy. In this process I endured 3 ileostomies and reversals, organ failure, near death experiences, all the while also being hospitalized for COVID, and type 1 diabetes. 

During this time, I also discovered that I will not be able to have children due to the many medical issues and complications involved. This was a different kind of devastation and grief and I am still trying to deal with this news. 

All the while, I was also in college and graduate school trying to fit in and live a fulfilled life. Recently, I met my goal and graduated with my master’s degree. September 2022 will be one year without surgery or a major complication, which is a huge win. I still have to deal with many struggles every day just to live a “normal” life and to also deal with the many medical issues that will forever be a part of my story.