On May 3rd, 2022, I finally had the long-awaited mammogram I had been begging to get done. On Thursday, May 5th, 2022, I received the results of the X-rays. I have nothing growing inside my body that should not be there! I can finally breathe deeply for the first time in two months!

Does this mean the pain I have been having has finally gone away? No. No, I am still in pain each day. When I finally get back home to Wisconsin, I will see a new doctor, and together we will find out what is causing my pain. I told the doctor's office I had had enough of the Florida health care system to last me a lifetime when asked if I wanted to see a new doctor and find out what is causing my pain.

You see...

Last Friday, April 29th, 2022, I drove myself to the ER. I woke up at 3:33 am. The left side of my body was numb from the top of my head to my toes; this was the third time I had felt this way since I had been down in Florida helping my Mother recover from her broken leg. I had no idea what was causing this numbness and still do not. I was worried enough about my health that the cost of a trip to the ER didn't bother me.

I woke up my Mom to let her know I would be gone for a few hours. Little did I know...

A 58-year-old Caucasian woman who has just spent the last two months under mountains of stress and thinks she is having a stroke or heart attack is a prime suspect for the Florida ER team and hospital team to decide she is a drug addict and has only come to the ER to receive free drugs. Mind you, I never asked for any drugs. I did ask them to find out what was wrong with me.

I spent fifteen hours at the hospital. I signed myself out of the hospital at 8:00 pm, never getting ANY of the test results they had spent all day running on me. I had overheard many interesting conversations by the nurses about myself from the hallway, though.

Enough overheard conversations to know my test results were all negative except for the final MRI. I was willing to take the chance that the MRI of my brain would come back normal if it meant my Mom did not have to spend the night worrying about me.

On Wednesday, May 4th, 2022, I saw my Mom's doctor. I finally received all the results of the many tests the hospital had run on my body. All tests, even the MRI scan of my brain, came back negative!!! I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

I had to hold myself together until I had my mammogram on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022.

Looking back over the last weeks, I realized how amazing our brains are. I was and am still responsible for my Mothers well being. She cannot cook, clean, or safely live alone at this time. It is my responsibility to take care of her above all else. If I found myself overthinking the "what if's" of my current situation, my brain would take over and keep me busy, so I did not have time to think.

Unfortunately, this meant I could not enjoy any quiet activities that brought me joy, such as writing, drawing, or coloring.

I am hoping now that my body doesn't have anything foreign growing inside it, I will be able to let my imagination wander where it may. In my mind's wandering, I will get back to enjoying all of the activities that bring happiness to my life and be able to share some of those times with you all.

I will still be in Florida helping my Mother for another two months. My Mother and I are hoping on Tuesday, May 17th, 2022, she will be given the go-ahead to start walking on her right leg. Mom is getting antsy to be up and about once more. Her being bored is wonderful to see. She has been through so much and overcame many hurdles to get strong and healthy once more.

For the next two months, I hope both of us can relax and enjoy being together while Mom gets her full strength back.

I want to thank all of you who have kept us in your prayers. It has meant the world to my Mother and me. Hopefully, it will not be so long before you see me again!