The Start of Life 2.0

I don't think you guys realized that your donations, your encouraging words, and all your support not only helped get me to Germany, but it helped me keep me going when things were very tough after surgery. I felt the love and the prayers and still do even now in my recovery. It's a long road to Life 2.0, but you gave me that opportunity. The opportunity to come back and be a wife and mom to my girls. The opportunity to get better so that I can continue advocating for the others who are still fighting for diagnosis and treatment.


I still have EDS, a chronic lifelong illness, and will have health issues that pop up, but I'm able to truly live again. I'm not in debilitating pain, I can eat and drink, I'm not consumed by constant other symptoms that are too many to name. I struggled with some survivor's guilt shortly after my surgery when I was progressing well. I felt guilty that so many others wouldn't get the opportunity for treatment, that some couldn't wait any longer with the pain and would take their life, that some would have complications from surgery no fault of their own or their surgeon, or the ones whose bodies just give out. I decided the only way I can honor all of those warriors is to never take for granted the opportunity I've been given, but also never stop fighting for them because they can't fight themselves.


When I originally wrote "Hope for Others Like Me" I meant it. I have doctors over here who are willing to help and learn and I was so fortunate to have so much time spent with my German surgeons picking their brains. They truly want to help others including sharing what they've figured out is the most successful from years of experience. My main surgeon is determined to not retire until he gets the link between EDS and vascular compressions published, which he's currently doing with the top EDS specialists in the US & UK.


Another thing I wanted to mention is how we had to really trust that God created this path. There were so many times he made the impossible possible and knew the timing was everything. From my symptoms getting so much worse after I arrived in Germany (I would've been very afraid if I was still back in the US) to if I came to Germany any later I wouldn't have been able to have surgery done. I know it seemed a little crazy and too quick for some, but that's how faith can look.

Tomorrow will be 5 weeks since my surgery. I finally finished a video to document the trip to Germany and the start of Life 2.0. My family sincerely thanks you for everything.

"Scars" by I Am They