Inspiration

I Turn To You - Clay Crosse

This song goes very well with my story, it is exactly what I need to do more often… turn to God.

This February (2009) I had brain surgery again, only this time it was on my left side. I was thankful that no facial problems occurred after the surgery but do miss the little sounds I heard before. Being profoundly deaf has been an experience indeed. Most of all I miss my music. However I miss the small every day sounds as well; birds in the trees, car tire wheels on the road, my mom’s voice, my nephews laugh, keys jiggling as I unlock the door, the rustling sound of feet and papers in a crowed place… and so much more.

As if this was not hard enough to cope with, in May (just 3 months later) I started to notice that I could not see things very clearly. The changes were small and slow so I was not sure what was wrong. It took 2 months to realize it was getting worse. I went to the eye doctors had test and was promised that the new glasses prescription would help me see better. I had to wait for that, then when I got them, it did nothing to help me. The same process happened again and by now its been over another month. Things got worse until they stopped at just “bad”. I couldn’t see any type of hand written things and only words on the computer if it was big and bold font. I couldn’t see my own writing, lines on the paper or even keys on a keyboard (I thank God that I memorized the keyboard a long time ago). I couldn’t see money, things on the floor, faces of people, pictures on computer or printed. Worst of all I could not see my church interpreters or any interpreter. I couldn’t use my video phone, I could barley text on my cell phone. I couldn’t find food in the frigate or cut anything (bless my mom for making me food). I couldn’t watch movies (see the captions or the images), and reading took a lot of long hard work.
At this point I am so depressed and board at home. All day being newly profoundly deaf and now part blind. I had to also skip summer classes because of this, and I so desperately wanted to go back to school, to have it all be normal again. I guess that wasn’t Gods plan though. As time kept passing me by and the summer was disappearing I was worried about Fall classes. Me and my mom worked hard to get my books and classes all paid for and to get a new bus pass. I worked hard to figure out what classes I need and what works best for my schedule, I had even hoped to work at the tutoring center again.

Finally the doctors did a test and found that I had high pressure in my brain and they set up surgery. Aug 12th was the day I was going to get it fixed. Last month everything with Palomar was all set and ready, and I was starting to get a little excited about my classes. Aug 24th was the first day of Fall classes. I found out in a follow up appointment one week after eye surgery that possible improvement wouldn’t show for at least 2 months. There goes my Fall classes, and with it the last bit of strength I had left. I was devastated. However I realized I was trying to steer my own life, go where I thought I should go, and as soon as I took a deep breath and let go of the steering wheel God directed my life.

I was given a puppy. The most sweetest, cutest puppy of my very own. I had spent most of my life wanting a new puppy to raise as my baby, and I got one just when I was at my lowest. God blessed me with many generous friends, family, and even people I never met at my church. The process of getting my puppy showed me (again) how loved I am by so many people. I named my puppy Sassy Ann and she brings me much joy and happiness every day.

It is now September 1st, 2009 and things with my eyes have yet to improve. I have an eye doctor appointment today but I have no expectations for that. I keep reminding my self to let God steer my life, even though it is scary and to my eyes looks like the wrong path. But God see the whole path before me and he knows where I will go while I only see the short distance in front of me. Every day I have people praying for me and every day I pray and breath and just try to live my life the best way I can. Sassy helps my days, it is hard to not smile with her around.

I wrote this mostly because I find that my stories are inspiriting to others. Maybe they will help someone who reads them or maybe not. I have no idea what will happen next but I take courage in the fact that with God on my side I can do anything and get through anything.

Twilight

Too good to not share! Twilight saga series is the best ever! I finished the first book in 2days then the second book in 3days! I am no the third book now and can barly wait to read it. Not only that but the movie is great too! I know what people say but i think the actors are the a good pick and i loooove Edward :D ok so here are pic and movie clips of it all :)




















movie clip:

Brain Surgery Aftermath

Ok so I never know what to write in these things.

I guess I can start by saying I am all well and good. The surgery went perfectly and I am in the prossess of recovering now. I am also getting the ball rolling to have surgery on my left side of my face. They are going to fix the nerves so that I can smile even again. I am also looking into geting a chocoluar implant, I have a meeting with a specialest about that comeing up next month. So lots is still happing but mostly I am home bored. I read a lot and sleep many hours, thanks to the medication I take. I take less and less med every day so soon I will be off that. I am up 8 surgeries now. Out of my whole life I have 8 surgeries but been cut open 9 times. See when they did this last surgery on my head they cut a part of fat from my tummy and used it as a cover inside my head. Sounds funny but it means I got another scar. By the time I'm back in school in the summmer I will have had a total of 10 surgeries (11 if I get the chocoular implant). But if you think about it that is 3 surgeries in the space of 6 months, crazy. I stressed to my doctors that if we do have more surgery I want it before school starts so they are trying hard to get done fast for me :) I have like 3 doctors and a handful of student doctors that just find my case fasinating. At the hospital I never knew if the person was a nurse or a doctor or a student lol. I would as them something and they say ask the nurse then another person came in and I would ask them the question and they say ask the nurse and I would tell mom "she was not the nurse?" and mom said she was a student doctor. Finaly another person came in with blood presure machine and I go that must be a nurse. She said she was the nurse for this shift (even more confusing they change people per shift). So I asked her the question and she said ask the doctor! It was a never ending curcle the whole time I was there heheh. Mom did a good job of interpeting when I asked questions, I am proud of her working so hard at signing. The food there was gret but I had no desire to eat. I was sick and throwing up for 2 days, then I had thurshen so I couldnt tast or swallow well. I ate a lot of ice cream cuz it was the only thing that didnt hurt to eat lol. I spent 5 days in the hospital 2 days in the ICU. They didnt let me take a shower and it was the worst ever. Although mom says the water for the shower was freezing and she hated it. All in all it was nice to finaly be home. Mom took the following week off work that week and when I got home I slept all the time. I was takeing a lot of med still and it made me sooo sleepy. I still get sleepy when I take the med but I dont need it as often now. It also gives me hot flashes which are a pain at night. Man I never want to get old and have to have those all the time hehehe. So thats about it. I am recovering slowly and moving on with plans. I just take one day at a time, never knowing what I will be doing. Oh and I want to say thanks to everyone who sent me money, cards, gifts, flowers, emails, and phone cards. You all have been the cause of my smile and have helped my mom smile too. I have never had so much attention before, I really am loved :)

ok here is picture I took of my stich Feb 1st. This is before they took out the stiches, I took these when I was in the hospital. *(I made them big by mistake hehe)

Brain Surgery Hosp. Info

This is a shout out to all my friends, family, and people who wish to know....

I will be having the surgery at the UCSUD Thornton Hospital in La Jolla. I should be staying no longer then 5 days, if all goes well, which many of you know by now never happens when it comes to me. Ether way, mark the 28th as your pray day, as that will be the day I finally forgo this surgery.

9300 Campus Point
Drive La Jolla 92037

Now this is my doctor who will also be performing my surgery:
John F. Alksne, M.D.
Professor of Surgery

Over all this hospital is the best ever. the Web site tells you more about it, like real food, room serves, comfy living conditions. Its going to be hard to leave! It will be like I’m on vacation :D Even so I am going to be happy when its over.

http://health.ucsd.edu/locations/thornton.htm

Angel Food Ministries for You

Angel Food Ministries

* Balanced nutrition and variety
* Feeds a family of four for about one week for only $30
* Nutritionally balanced, fully cooked meals for seniors or people on the go.

Angel Food Ministries is an opportunity to save a significant amount of money on groceries, and is not dependent upon need or income; in fact, every box you order results in donations back to other Lighthouse Ministry.

The New Menu is now available.
Check out www.angelfoodministries.com for ordering information, or just click on the Angel Food Ministry button on the Church’s web site, www.lightcc.org

Now go give it a try!


Lighthouse Christian Church
4700 Masa Drive
Oceanside, Ca, 92057

Surgery Date Change

I just got this emial from my doctor about my surgery. He said,

"I just found out today that Naomi's surgery has been scheduled for Jan.28th not the 7th like I was told. I had not received a packet on her surgery yet, so I called. Good thing I did they had not even scheduled a pre-op appointment. but now we have a pre-op appointment on the Jan. 20th."

Wow talk abt complications. Oh well, I get more time to hang with friends now :)

Amazing: A True Christmas Story

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Mannheim Steamroller

This is a story that has just happened with me, that I want to share with you in hopes that you will share it with others. My only wish is for this inspiring message to be told.

It started with a good friend of mine helping me write a blog all about my history with my tumors. We worked all summer on this blog and it is a good blog, but I never thought of it again as I got swept up in school work. Then last Saturday, the 13th, was my mom’s work Christmas party. My mom and I were both at the end of our funds for Christmas and of course stressing about having money for everything. The party did this give away thing where we randomly picked a white envelop, and inside only 30 envelops were a 100$ bill. When the time came to open them, me and mom BOTH got envelops with the money in it. Our prays were answered for Christmas.
The next day, Sunday the 14th, I was at church where we heard the message about Mary. Then I heard about the financial decrease My church had and I was shocked and saddened, so I reached in my wallet and noticed I had 25$ with me. I kept thinking that it was too much and I needed the money for Christmas, but then I prayed “Lord you know me and my needs, so here is my thanks for giving me that money in the first place. Please continue to bless me”. I put the money in the basket but I kept thinking “what have I done?! I just gave away 25 dollars?!” Thankfully though, I blindly trusted God in that moment and went on with my day.
Monday evening, the 14th, I met my Grandparents for dinner like I have done a few times in the past. Once we sat down to eat they handed me my Christmas card. Now almost always they give me a check for Christmas and every time I never look at it with them there. However they said for me to open the card and I was like “really?” but I opened it. I was shocked. I said “are you sure, is this for real?” and they said yes, enjoying the moment. My mom then looked at it and nearly fainted going “what is this for?!” Finally my Grandma told us the story of were that money came from. This is what she said:

“We read your blog online and decided to try and get some money for you to help with the surgery. So we sent your blog to our lawyer in France and he loved your blog so much, was inspired by it so greatly, that he went in search of a way to get you funding.”

He came though all right, for not only did I get a large sum but my brother and sister did as well. My grandparents told the story and gave the checks to them personally, and I was told my sister cried when she got her check for $2,000. On that Sunday I had asked God to bless ME but of course he did more than just that, he touched my family as well, and for that I am so much more the grateful.

I am blown away now at the series of events that unfolded before me. I have no doubt now that God’s hands are upon me, protecting me. Not long ago I feared, mostly, the unknown after effects of my surgery, but now I no longer worry, for I know he will light me a path thorough that darkness of unknowns. Even now I am still caught up in it all, my mind just reeling. At just the slightest thought I begin to tear and I can’t stop saying “thank you God”. I find this story very encouraging and I hope you will pass it onto others so that they may start to trust God more and worry less.

A Very Merry Christmas :)