There are many people that I come in contact with on a daily basis that are near and dear to my heart. I don't tell them enough how special they are to me, and that is something I need to work on. What better way to begin than with a "thank you" from my heart.
Thank you for believing me when I began not feeling good in the summer of 2003. Thank you for holding my head as I threw up time after time because I was so scared because I didn't know what was wrong. Thank you for telling me I was beautiful as I dropped down to less than 100 pounds because lupus was eating my body away. I was in college, living in the dorm, and let's just be real. You don't have much privacy while living in a dorm. I only had one person to make a negative comment about how bad I was looking, and I will never forget that as long as I live.
Thank you to my uncle, who is a physician, that targeted exactly what was wrong with me within two visits. Thank you to my parents who made me come home and get the treatment I needed, even though I was in my last year of college.
Thank you to my husband (fiancé at the time) for being my best friend and biggest fan. It would have been so easy to walk away and say "I can't handle this." He instead, put on his big boy underwear and took care of me every step of the way. He gave me my meds, took me to my doctor appointments, and he still does. He was in his last semester of nursing school, working the night shift as an LPN, and driving from where he lived to where I was going to college, back to my parents house, and to Birmingham with me. There were many time when I didn't feel like driving back to school and he would take me all the way there and go back home at midnight. I obviously could go on and on thanking him for what all he does. Let's just say God knows who we need when we need them most.
Thank you to the fetal specialist that took Josh and I in after we tried for a year to have a child. We walked into her office to the sight of a file about 5 inches thick with big red letters stamped on it "High Risk" only to find out that it was mine. Thank you to her and her advice of, " I can't tell you you can't, and I can't tell you you shouldn't, but I can tell you the risks."
Thank you to my very dear friend, who may be cray cray to some, but an angel to me. She is my general practitioner that took my case after my uncle retired. She has given advice beyond measure. She tells me the things that I don't want to hear like, "Go home, shave your legs, because I'm putting you in the hospital. You are too sick to fight this on your own........again." She also saved me many sleepless nights, by suggesting I go see a therapist for pain management. There I said it. Yes, I see a therapist. Don't hate, you probably need to yourself :)
Through the fate of our jobs, I want to say thank you to my very best friend, who always makes me laugh, cooks me homemade chicken fingers for my birthday, and checks on me everyday!!!! With the hubs being in school, she keeps me going everyday. She is usually my first text in the morning and the last one before I go to sleep. She is constantly on the go and inspires me to get up and do something.
It is my hope that this Valentine's Day you take a minute to thank those who love you and the lifelong, uncureable disease that comes along with you.
Thank you for reading this blog and helping me keep my head above water. Happy Valentine's Wishes to you and those you are thankful for.
~Tiffany~
The people that know me best, know the way to my heart is through my nose. They won me over this Valentine's Day!!!
The hubs and I on Valentine's Day and his birthday. I can't think of a better Valentine's baby!!
The princess and the wild child. We spent Sunday afternoon with my sister and her precious family!!!
