Early Saturday in These Foolish Things

Early Saturday morning.

I like waking up before the world does on the weekends. Sure, it’s because I mostly go to bed earlier than the rest of the world, but there’s something about silent mornings when you live downtown.

This morning I woke up early but am rising slowly.

I got on Facebook and sent a heartfelt message to a guy who’s new in my Carotid Artery Dissection support group regarding his recovery. It always hurts my heart a little bit to read about a new member who’s just out of the hospital and wondering what to do now and how to heal. The thing is, I remember that confusion. Not even doctors know much about this condition, so it’s hard to get information. The members in this FB group are from all over the world and we lean on each other for understanding. This guy, from the Netherlands, had also suffered a stroke and his doctors told him that he would be out of work for 2 months and then get another consultation to determine whether or not he is fit enough to go back to work.

I was only off work for a week, and even then, I was checking my emails and such. And even though I didn’t suffer a stroke, looking back, I can tell you that a week was not enough. So I told this guy to be very gentle with himself and that he will always think he can do more than he actually should be doing.

Last night I did more research on the Circle of Willis and what a freaking miracle that part of our brain really is! The Circle of Willis is actually a ring of connecting arteries that form a circle at the base of your brain. When one of the arteries that supplies blood to your brain is cut off - like mine was when my left carotid artery was dissected, the Circle of Willis allows for collateral blood flow from other vessels! In other words, it acts as a safety valve for the brain just in case something like this happens to you via a neck injury or strangulation or a blood clot or whatnot! Isn’t that a MIRACLE of biology?! It still blows me away.

And the additional miracle is that every individual’s anatomy is different. Less than 50% of humans actually have a fully-functioning and complete Circle of Willis because there are so many variations to the way your arteries and veins are structured. Another miracle to have a fully-functioning CoW! I most certainly would have had a stroke had my CoW not been 100% functional.

Just! The things I think about now…

Anyway. I didn’t mean for this to become a medical lesson. But I am still so unbelievably grateful that I’m still here and getting better and stronger every day.

Had a good end of the week. Went to a concert with my friend Karl on Thursday night. We saw a band that both of us loved in the 80s through high school and college and what fun we had - mostly laughing at the old, OLD crowd! We were shocked by how old and mellow everyone was. Still fun and we stayed out later than we normally do and were kind of impressed by ourselves being the fittest and youngest and craziest, which wasn’t hard to be at all!

Yesterday was a decent and relaxed day at work - the calm before the storm of Boss getting back from a long Asia trip. I am already bracing myself for next week with him back and traveling for two days (still nervous about flying even though I’ve done it already with no problems - I will still take my valium during flight). Next week will be a long and difficult one and I just have to be in the right mindset.

So I’m taking this weekend to relax, relax, relax. I will get up and out of this bed in a few minutes, take all my meds, drink a decaf coconut milk latte and walk the dog for several miles. Maybe Farmer’s Market - I have read that the pumpkins are out! I have plans to go to the movies this afternoon with some girls from Martini’s doggy daycare (we’re going to see Hustlers), and then take it easy tonight. Tomorrow I will walk some more and make some food and plan what I’m going to pack for my trip. Do some laundry and maybe some online shopping and blah, blah, blah.

It’s already a good weekend!

Ok, time for decaf - ha. That sounds funny.

Love, love and more love (and miracles),
GS