Encouragement- Don't settle to survive , plan to thrive

[dmat01]

I have posted to numerousl topics on this site. I have been very encouraged by the responses of so many. There is no way I could ever thank all the people whom have come into my life, from whatever source or venue, and been a vital part of my being able to stay the path of this journey. But I do want to share the most wondrous day of my life since this journey began.

On April 13, 2011 after 539 days, 21 hours, and thirty minutes- My husband, Dennie was reintroduced to the world of hearing. Hearing better than he said he could ever remember hearing. When the specialist placed those aids in his ears, it was a sight I will never ever forget. Dennie jumped and beamed a smile on his face which was worth more than any words spoken could do justice to. The Specialist, Dennie, and I sported some huge grins on our faces that is indescribably. Not to mention the moisture which leaked from my eyes required some dabbing at. I can honestly say that every second of the 46,647,000 seconds of his severe hearing impairment I wished and hoped for his hearing to be restored. So many sleepless hours of the 12957 hours since his hearing was taken plagued me with feelings of failing to met his needs and make things happen. Yes, That very moment in which the hearing aids were turned on- Dennie and I were overwhelmed!

Many times I explored for avenues to make this a reality. So many times I would find a place to explore for assistance and every time we were turned down. For whatever reasons, and each encounter had one, we could not meet the criteria for assistance. So very many times, I would almost reach the point of giving into defeat, but Dennie had never been a quitter since this journey started. He had overcome so many odds against his survival and recovery by leops and bounds whatever anyone ever thought possible for him.

Don''t ever give up the dreams and goals you set. Your journey may not be what you desire, but it is your journey after all. Meningitis ( especially, some forms of it) bring a lot of dispair and heartache to the lives of those whom journey through and beyond it. I have learned to hold onto some sayings, where I got some of them, I can't honestly tell you.

"Nothing ventured nothing gained"
"If nothing changes nothing changes"
"Chances, choices, changes: Are you willing to take the chance to make the choice to accept the changes in your life.

Those 3 C"s have challenged me the most, but all three have been an important boast to my ability to accept and deal with whatever Challenges have thus far presented itself in our path. I wrote this post to be an encouragement to others in their journey. Don't give in or up, but search from within to find the solutions to obtain the best possible results for whatever plagues your journey. While many aspects of your journey will be treacherous, it does not have to be "un-do-able." Life after meningitis does not have to be lived in the survival l mode, but with virtuous thriving and contribution of self in the daily grind of life that all go through.

[sadlisa]

dmat

So good to hear the good news! We all need the encouragement. How are his other symptoms? Have they improved at all. I have not visited the forum for a while. It isn't a very active site. I will send you a pm. Thanks again for the post.

Thia

[dmat01]

It's nice hearing from you. We have settled into a pattern of daily living which has finally become manageable. The Hearing Aids work wonderful but sometimes we have those days in which the cognitive skills hinder commuication. Today was one such day, and it was very frustrating. For every step forward occassionally there is backward movement that unsettles his progress.

He has been in Cardiac Rehab since April. The first 36 weeks there was little or no progress. They thought it was due to the steriods and some other medications he takes. SO far, he is about a third ways through this 36 week cycle and he says this is the last rehab he is taking. Ultimately, it is his decision to make, but I have seen lots of collateral benefits- such as he has a place to be, fits in, and every one has a common goal. I have only participated in two sessions, but I can see he has made friends and they all interacat well with each other. Mostly men, and they all complain, but while complaining you can hear the comeradrie bewteen them all.

He uses a CPAP machine at night now. Orginally, the sleep study was order to prove if the seizures were the result of a sleep disorder. Unfortuanately, the answer was no the seizures are of a neurological issues within his brain not caused or affected by Apnea. The CPAP is a regime which is to help battle against the continual lung infections he has battled this year. He has Hypopneas and Apneas in which his oygen saturation rate drops to 78 percent.

We finally managd to afford an eye exam which proved to be something we should not have put off. He has developed some vision issues which the optometrist feels is of neurological orgin. The pressure in his eyes are higher than should be, but still manageable at this time. He has double and triple visioin which can be somewhat controllled by the movment of his head. What is odd, is Dennie can see independently out of each of his eyes without covering one. It is eerie, but intrigued the optomtrist a bit. His abioity to do has possibly altered the results of exams given by his neurologist, but Dennie never shared this abit of information before.

His counselor hadameningitis several months back. Fortunately she did not suffer all the issues he did. A co-work er of mine had meningitis last month and has returned to work. While, I am so happy that thier cases were not as severe and left so many lingering issues, sometimes I find myself crying and wishing we had been so fortunate. The pity party does not last long, because I really have so much to be grateful for.

So glad you got in touch. I have wondered how things were going for you. I feeling understand when Doctors don't have any answers so they just rule out possibilities because they of nothing else to say.
Keep your chimn up, and dont stop pursuing whatever you have to do to get the answers which are so imporant to your journey. I sometimes joke, ( but I rarely laugh ) that I get Dennie the best doctors and mediations that I can buy. The only problem, I can't afford much. But, it is the best I can buy!

Keep in touch. My email is dakieamathews@aol.com. I will watch your post also. Others need to hear what those whom have traveled the path in order to give them strength and hope that they too can do it!