No High School Reunion For Me

Being disabled has meant missing out on my kids’ activities, and many other "Cool" things in life. I have not wanted to attend any of my high school reunions.  The main reason is the simple fact that my leaving home and many other factors, led to me dropping out and getting my GED at age 16 and starting college that same year.  Plus, I never really enjoyed being judged for how much money I never made, the clothes I choose to wear, the weight I have gained, and anything else that might be considered.  So you can see why avoidance was my simple answer to all previous high school reunions.  With Pain Sufferers Speak’s success and my renewed self esteem, I was a little excited, but still hesitant, about attending my 20^th HS reunion set for July 30, 2011. Initially, only a headcount was gathered so costs and other details could be figured out. Then it was released that they were considering two different hotels here in Austin, TX for the party. Since I live in Austin, I added me and my hubby to their headcount. Today, I just finished reading the update for the reunion which included the fact that now the location is a “Party Boat Cruise” on Lake Austin from 7:30-10pm (boarding the boat starts at 7:15pm).  I’m not sure if you can imagine how this leaves me out of this event completely. With my nerve damage in both legs and both arms, I would be scared to death to agree to get on some unstable boat and be trapped for 3 hours. Falling would be my biggest fear, but it certainly doesn’t stop there.  It all goes back to the same problem—If you don’t live with disability, If disability does not affect your family, then it’s not even considered.  Instead of hosting an event that tries to include as many people as possible, the event has been planned to exclude many. Consider that the cost is $43 per person without beer and wine or $55 with alcohol. That means $86 minimum for a couple for one “fajita meal with all the trimmings” and being trapped on a boat for less than 3 hours in Texas heat!!  As you can see, the economic hardship of this economy was also not considered at all. All I can add is that for the 30^th reunion, those that plan the event better consider ALL factors since, statistically, many more of us will be disabled by then.  

My Story & Diagnosis

Hello Pain Brothers & Sisters!! I'm already in the process of writing my first book (of course) called Pain Sufferers Speak. Within the last year, I started Pain Sufferers Speak's 4 Elements: our Exclusive "Members Only" Pain Family, Community Fan Page, Blog plus I host Twitter chats every night that pain allows me to at 10pm CST-USA. Its been therapy for me after 15 years living with chronic pain, 2 back surgeries, partial hysterectomy, 2 kids, & hubby of 18.5 years. Life never gives us what we think, but I am super blessed to have gone through everything!! One chapter in the book is planned to have loads of my pain peeps and their stories. (Please message me your story to be considered for the book if you want.) Its a timely topic it seems as pain has invaded every section of the globe's society. However, at first it was to help me come back and talk about my pain after 18 months in hermitville and severe depression after losing 2 careers (8 yrs in healthcare as rehabilitation tech for head injury hospital, Home Health Aide Dispatcher & Home Health Aide for Disabled & Elderly Clients + 9 years as Nationally Certified Paralegal with most of my time in Bankruptcy & Social Security Law plus a little Real Estate Law). Took me 38 months and many trips to food banks and my parents help to finally win Social Security disability. Was turned down 4 times and 3 of those were with my attorney's help!! I refused disability after the first back surgery at age 24, because I just couldn't accept being disabled that young. It was emergency surgery in 1996 (age 24) because my right leg went completely numb. I have degenerative disc disease that effects 4 discs in my back (L5/S1, L4/L5 and 2 cervical discs in my neck), neuropathy (nerve damage and nerve pain) in both legs with balance and falling issues, carpel tunnel in both wrists and arms with nerve damage, occasional panic attacks since age 16, plus chronic fever blisters on my eyes, nose and mouth.... and a partridge and a pear tree. LOL I am so blessed to have such a big supportive real family and now over 200 Pain Brothers & Sisters in my self-created Pain Sufferers Speak "Members Only" Pain family. My hubby has had to take care of me off and on after surgeries, etc. He works out of our home as a mobile mechanic on cars and trucks so that he has time to chauffeur the kids since I have not driven for last 4 years on doctor's recommendation. I am mostly homebound due to falling and the car being so painful. My disabilities DO NOT define me!!! I keep my faith in God, my positive attitude plus I keep HOPE alive by always trying to do new things and test my limits to see what I CAN do. Life is challenging to everyone, and these just happen to be my challenges. I love to network with other bloggers, advocates of all kinds, and fellow chronic pain and chronic illness peeps. My book should be finished by the end of this year and hopefully published next year. I love to read (always have at least 2 books Im busy with), watch movies (Netflix ROCKS!!), host gamenights for friends and family, yoga, swimming when pain allows, cooking when carpel tunnel allows, blogging as often as I can, and I LOVE Twitter and Facebook. I am most proud of my 2 children (Jocelynn-17 and off to college in Aug, and Scott-11 who starts Jr High in Aug), my husband and our marriage of 18 years (loads of consistent work and lots of fighting through issues), and last but not least the repair of my relationship with both of my parents after tumultuous teen years. I practice unconditional love and acceptance of everyone in my life and carry my positive attitude as a shield against depression's pull. My faith sustains me and grounds me and is my ever present joy in life.

Hope you will enjoy Pain Sufferers Speak's Global Pain Community AND Choose to Join ALL "4 Elements" and Share our Global Pain Community with all of your friends and family!

1.) Pain Sufferers Speak's Exclusive "Members Only" Facebook Pain Family

http://www.facebook.com/groups/painsufferersspeak

2.) Pain Sufferers Speak's Facebook Community Fan Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pain-Sufferers-Speak/112276272164064

3.) Pain Sufferers Speak's Blog **You are here now.** : )

http://painsufferersspeak.blogspot.com/

4.) Follow Pain Sufferers Speak's Founder & Administrator, Liz Hall, for nightly chats on Twitter as @painspeaks at 10pm CST-USA!

http://twitter.com/#!/painspeaks

A little bit about me.....

I have degenerative disk disease and 4 disks are effected—2 in lumbar/low back, 2 in cervical/upper back & neck. Required 2 back surgeries-1st in 1996 at age 24 when my right leg went completely numb (L5/S1), and 2nd in 2008 when left leg had pinched nerve (L4/L5). Left with neuropathy in both legs and feet which causes balance issues, weakness & falling sometimes. Due to doctor’s recommendation, I have not driven since 2006 and remained mostly homebound to prevent further injuries and keep pain level reasonable. Even though complete disability was recommended in 1996, I did not file for Social Security Disability until 2006 and was not approved until 38 months later in 2009.  After 9 years of endless typing as a paralegal, I also have carpel tunnel in both wrists and arms with moderate nerve damage in both. Occasional panic attacks helped to diagnose PTSD in 2009. My disabilities do NOT define me. They are my life’s challenges and I choose to be positive and thankful. That’s right-Thankful! Without my issues, I would work full time and only get nights and weekends with my husband & 2 children. Instead, I am here every day to make breakfast and eat with all of them. I am here when the kids come home from school, and love helping with homework & school projects.  I make dinner and cook as often as I am able. My husband and I share household chores and responsibilities. Due to my disability, my husband works out of our home and we get quality time together each day.  I have had the time to rediscover my love of writing and make daily connections through Pain Sufferers Speak’s community which is my passion! I love sharing FREE health/wellness information, doing webresearch 5 days a week, helping people to feel less alone in their pain, and encouraging others to share their pain in a healthy way. I feel truly blessed and excited about the future!