Miracles Come in More Ways than One

I am catching up with details about my surgery, and don't want to forget this one. On July 24th, I went back to Dr. Brosky for my first follow-up since my surgery on July 18th. 

My doctor said, "Everything looks great." He went on to explain that as soon as he snapped the post tibial tendon, my foot straightened up. No one but God, my mom, myself, and my doctor knew just how bad the contracture in my foot was. It was getting worse with every visit, and I was in so much pain that I couldn't do much except stay in the bed because my knees would swell after a short car ride. My foot turned inwards so much that walking was impossible.

My doctor asked for prayers the night before the surgery, and I said, "We always do." What I didn't know was just how bad my foot was. Today, he told us, "If the tendon had not released when I snapped it, you would have been looking at bone surgery. That means the bone wouldn't move, and your foot would be like a peg."

He continued, saying, "But someone was looking out for us up there." Yes, yes He was! I cannot tell you how overjoyed I am at today's news! Although I have a ways to go before I fully recover, this was just what I needed to hear. I expected a good report, but this was a GREAT report. Only God could have done this. Humans can only do so much. Humans only know so much. Then, God shows up and shows out! 

Dr. Brosky also said, "I know you are going to walk, and I look forward to the day when you send me a video of you walking." Through tears, I said, "Me too." If you are going through a rough time full of uncertainties, hang in there! I have been through so many setbacks and struggles that only God has kept me. Only God has given me the strength and determination to keep pressing forward. Trust me when I say I have bad days and cry out of frustration and pain. I get frustrated that things aren't moving as fast as I'd like them to. Only God knows.

Before I end this note, I want to say something to Dr. Brosky. I know doctors are trained to leave their emotions at the door, but I just have to say this. After my most favorite doctor in the world retired in his 80s, after seeing me since I was eleven years old, and giving me the honor of being his last operation, I was heartbroken. I even told Mama, "I don't think I will ever find another doctor like Dr. Griffin." She said, "Don't worry. There are others like him."  

After many bad ones, a period of no insurance, and doctors who weren't capable of handling all of my issues, I was referred to Dr. Thomas Brosky. I just didn't know what a blessing that would be.  

Dr. Brosky, thank you for never backing down from a challenge. Thank you for your unwavering support. Thank you for seeing me as more than a chart number or paycheck. Thank you for your compassion. I thought that was long gone from the medical community, but you are one of the good ones. Thank you for believing in me and seeing me whole again. Instead of dreading appointments, a smile creeps across my face every time I have to come see you, even though you are an hour away. 

Also, thank you to all of my faithful friends and family members near and far who pray for me. I am proof that prayer changes things!

Making my Hometown More Accessible

Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook have already seen this. The blogging community is so vast, it made perfect sense to post it here. This article appeared in my hometown newspaper, The Hartwell Sun, on July 10th. It is a result of a letter to the editor I wrote about accessibility issues concerning our post office and other downtown areas. I am so proud to be raising awareness for something that is often not even thought about. This has been in the works for quite awhile, and it is a little overwhelming to see it in print! Even if you don't have mobility issues, you will be aware of areas that are not easy to get to when you get older. 

I have done more research, but I am a bit limited since I am still recovering. Right now, I just have a list of improvements that need to be made with some other relevant information.

If you would like to read it, just click on the photo and then zoom in. I am posting this because I have readers from all over the world, which will help me in coming up with more ideas for helping my community. Please leave a comment with your ideas or email me. Your input is invaluable. My readers are so awesome, so I have no doubt that you will have some ideas. Aside from the things I already mentioned in the article, what would YOU do to make a town better for people in wheelchairs, parents with babies in strollers, or the elderly? 

Ready, set, write!

Parents, Beware of Urgent Care Centers

On Sunday night, February 2, 2014, my two- year-old nephew was taken to an Urgent Care in a different town because the local office was closed. His eye was somewhat swelled because he had hit it the night before. He was crying throughout the day because his ear hurt. The Nurse Practitioner did not give him anything for his eye. She just told my sister-in-law to put an ice pack on it and to call back the next day if he wasn’t any better. She said he had strep throat, but did not test him for it. She said by the time she tested him there wouldn’t be anything left. She said, “That’s what were going to treat him for.”

Well, my sister-law made an appointment with his pediatrician in Athens and they were appalled the nurse practitioner didn’t give him anything for his eye. He had to have two shots because they don’t want him to have any damage behind his eye. This could have been treated Sunday night. I would urge anyone who has a toddler to NEVER take your child to an Urgent Care Center! We live 50 miles from his pediatrician and were trying to get him better on the weekend, but instead they did nothing.

I do not recommend Urgent Care offices for children. They might be good for adults, but we have wasted two trips there and won’t be back. If we need anything on the weekends, we will be going to Athens Regional Emergency Room.

This isn’t my only complaint. A few weeks ago, we took my other nephew to Urgent Care and the same Nurse Practitioner suggested putting Crisco in his hair to treat flakes. He was there about a cough. Her remark was, “It worked for my two kids.” My sister-in-law didn’t ask her anything about his hair. Then, she didn’t even take his temperature until the end of the appointment, which required getting him out of the car seat because she had forgotten. The time saved in going to Urgent Care is nothing compared to possibly saving a life. Whatever happened to people entering the medical field because they genuinely care about patients, young and old?

This kind of behavior is unacceptable, and I felt compelled to say something so this doesn’t happen to another child.


Sincerely,
The Sanders family (including immediate and extended family)

Advocating for Another: The Spark Within

Even though school and life got in the way, I still wanted to finish the advocating for another posts.

Today's post is a letter to my [blogging] community.

After so many surgeries, I lost my spark. When I was younger, I would do anything my brother did. I wouldn't think twice about any limitations. Going to the doctor and experiencing so much pain made me cautious, uncertain about taking steps, rolling over in the bed. Simple things that I wouldn't have batted an eyelash at before. 

I didn't wake up one day and discover my spark was gone. When I had physical issues one right after the other, it began to slip away little by little. I really noticed a difference after my spinal fusion because it took me longer than most people to recover. In all honesty, though, it started the year before when I was in agony 24/7, soaking my pillow in tears because I couldn't sleep with that pain. Just waiting for daylight to shine through my window so I could take some medicine to at least dull the pain somewhat.

It happened when I would have to sit in church services with my TENS unit on 60, the highest setting, with an ice pack because my back hurt so bad.

It happened when I woke up to discover a bright red place on my hip that hurt deep inside of me. It happened because my cousin, who was young at the time, had to see me lay in the bed rather than doing fun stuff with her because I was hurting...but I didn't know why.

It happened after countless pokes from nurses taking blood tests but finding nothing wrong with me. It happened when my mom was told to take me to the ER in Atlanta, spending hours crying waiting for a doctor to see me only to hear them say they had seen nothing like it.

It happened on the way home from Atlanta, when I was throwing up on the intersection with no where to pull off. It happened when I knew something was wrong, and experiencing utter frustration when the residents on call in the hospital thought I was crazy.

It's so important that we don't let a disability or our circumstances cause us to be a shell of our former selves. I've spent a lot of time trying to get back to the person I was. I've missed the girl who was full of spunk. I've missed the girl who would take a hard fall, and jump back up with a bleeding elbow and go right back to playing outside. I've missed the girl who had a zest for life. After this weekend, I've made a conscious decision to get her back. I'll share more about that later. All I can say is "Watch out world, Madison is back!"

Written with Hope

This is an open letter to my Mama. I have some things I just need to say. Sometimes, I can't say things that I want to say without tears streaming down my face, so I'm going to express my thoughts through words today.





Dear Mama,




I want you to know that I haven't given up on walking again. I know at times progress is slow, but I'm doing it one step at a time.





Some days are long. When my hips ache at school, and most people would pick up the phone to go home, I stay. I don't stay to prove anything to anyone. I stay because there is something deep inside of me that motivates me to keep going.





Sometimes, I want to cry when I realize I can't do the simple physical therapy exercises at home. A few years ago they were a normal routine. Your gentle reminder that "You'll get there, Madison" means more than you'll ever know.


You didn't give up on me when I was was fighting for my life in the NICU.




You didn't give up on me when I took longer than most people to recover from surgeries.


You didn't give up on me when I was bedridden with an infection and had to rely on you for even the simplest things.


I know that when I am able to walk again, you will be there supporting me just like you always have.


Love,


Me

Dear Madison at 13

I saw this on Wearing Mascara's blog and decided to take the challenge. Write a letter to your younger self at age 13 that includes 10 things you would tell yourself if you had the chance.

Madison,

You're just starting middle school. It's a stepping stone from little girl to woman. Little do you know about the road that lies ahead of you. Life is too precious to have petty fights with your best friend.

Let me give you some advice:

• Don't worry about the people that tease you; they're just jealous.


• Even when you think no one will help you, look again. The person you least expected will be standing there.


• Don't be so nervous about going to a new school. Everyone's nervous.


• Be true to yourself. Ten years from now it won't matter if you wore name brand clothes or not.


• Keep working hard. In a couple of years, everyone will wish they have your work ethic.


• Keep smiling when you walk into school. It' doesn't matter if they smile back. You never know much that small act of kindness could mean to someone.


• Don't pay any attention to the kids that think you've got it easy just because you get to leave early. They have no clue what you have to deal with on a daily basis.


• Continue to love with all your heart. Your geniune gestures are one of the things people will admire most about you.


• Take time to laugh. Don't get so consumed with school work.


• Have fun! Time passes quickly.

Love,

Madison at 19

What would you write about? Would it be about boys, friendships, etc?

Writing Keeps me Sane

I don't know what I would do without it. Since I know that you're dying to hear the rest of my letter, I will oblige and post. (Hears the thunderous applause in the background.)

Part V: Don’t Live Life with Regrets and Fears

As I mentioned earlier, don’t not do something because you’re afraid to do it or afraid of the outcome. If you do, you’ll always wonder what it would have been like. My philosophy is to live each day to the fullest. Learn to live more, laugh more, and love more along the way. You never know who you might bump into on your journey that might need that “push” like you did to face your fears.

Part VI: Be an Inspiration

Whether you like it or not, people are always watching you. You get to choose whether or not you are a good or bad influence on other people. I didn’t get to choose my life or what obstacles came with it, but I have chosen to be an inspiration. I try my best to smile at people in pain because you never know who’s having a bad day! Don’t get me wrong, have my good days and bad days, too. It’s not so much about what you’re going through as how you handle it. I have to rely on God’s grace because without him I wouldn’t be alive today.

These past few months have been very trying for me. But, I was reminded that there IS light at the end of the tunnel. I was reading a story about a woman who has Crohns(for those of you who don't know what that is, it is a very painful disease that affects your small and large intestine. She has to take lots of medicine, and we all know everything has its drawbacks. I know you may be thinking, Has she had this her entire life? The answer is, "No." I was reminded that no matter how bad I feel, I can't quit. Even if my story doesn't help but one person, it's worth it. So, as I head into the "homestretch" of this week, I feel rejuvenated. Enjoy this!

As I Promised...

Part II: Making the Most Out of What You Have

I can’t stand people who complain everyday of their life. I 've found that you feel a lot better when you focus on the little kids who are dying of cancer or the ones who have no shelter. Do everyone a favor and at least act like your living for more than the latest fashions or newest haircut; make sure your life has some substance to it. I’ve learned that if you make the most out of what you have instead of going out and buying whatever it is that you think will move you up on the ladder of society, you are much more confident because you had to be creative!

Part III: Having Respect for Others

I’m only a teenager right now, but because of the things that I’ve been through, I have a greater respect for life as well as the people in it. For example, when you see a person in a wheelchair that needs to go inside, open the door for them. Don‘t let it slam in their face! Think about how you would feel if someone did that to you. So often, people get wrapped up in what they’re doing that they forget to stop and think about the world around them.

Part IV: Learning to Look at the World Differently

I guess you could say that the things that I’ve been through have shaped my life-in a good way. For example, I look at the world through a different set of eyes. I have compassion for the little baby with a cleft foot, and most people would look at that as something odd. My advice to that person would be: Don’t you think that you have things about yourself that aren’t “perfect,” like a funny shaped nose or a larger foot than some people?

A Letter with My Thoughts

A Journey Awaits You

The first question you might ask is, “What journey are you talking about?” My response is, “The journey of your life.” If you waste all of your life not doing something you love because of fear, you will never know what it is to truly experience life. I believe life is all about the ups and downs that come with it. Since you never know what to expect, don’t worry about a thousand things that might happen, sit back and enjoy the journey.

Part I: Having a Good Attitude No Matter What

I have faced many obstacles in my young life so I think I can offer you some valuable advice. No matter if the world seems as if it’s falling apart around you, stop and think about all the things you do have instead of the ones you don’t. Also, don’t panic if things don’t go the way that you want them to go; it could be worse! Don’t be motivated by your feelings; be motivated by something inside you. In other words, listen to that small voice inside of you that just won’t let you give up.

The following paragraphs are excerpts from an assignment I had to do about my life. I will post more later on.