The Detective’s Power of Persistence

“When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

What a busy week this has been.  Two times to the doctor's office, worked three days, had a staff training meeting to get ready for the Summer classes that begin on Monday and working on a book trailer for Dr. Kay.  However, let me first tell you how I was able to do all this. 

  

Being diligent and proactive as well as pursuing the role of a detective, I actually discovered a couple of things that was messing with my body!  I will tell you what happened, and by deduction I learned a couple of things that have made a difference in how I feel.

I was having really bad dizzy, weak, shaky spells.  I decided to stop one of the blood pressure medications.  It helped some, but I was still having problems.  (I did call my doctor to let her know.)  I kept check on my blood pressure, and it was fine; however, my heart rate was very fast.  So, I stopped the second one.  Blood pressure fine, not quite as dizzy and shaky but heart rate was still fast.  I began researching my other medicines, and I found that was a severe symptom of one of the allergy medicines.  So, yesterday, I didn’t take it in the morning.  I had just a tiny bit of vertigo, but it was a great day and my blood pressure was fine as well as my heart rate.

  

I felt so much better that I had a young lady come in to help me try to get the house back to some sort of order.  I actually felt well enough to do some sorting, cleaning a pitching of things myself.  I did things I had not been able to do in more than a couple of months.  It felt so good that by the time the day was finished, I was so tired I hurt.  However, a good hot shower and tucking myself in bed took care of all that.

I almost forgot to tell you that, the Doppler ultrasound imaging, which uses sound waves to check blood flow and measure the thickness of my carotid arteries turned out well. No problems there.  Check - that is good. 

  

This morning all systems are pretty much go.  I am not a 100 %, but I have been up getting more things accomplished.  I washed a load of clothes, gave myself a haircut and fixed my hair.  I have a list of things to try to get done before bedtime.  It always amazes me that if you just hang in there, be proactive just how much of a difference it can make.  If things are rough for you right now, I hope you tie a knot in that rope, hang on and climb out of the hole when opportunity knocks! 

 “It isn't the things that happen to us in our lives that cause us to suffer, it's how we relate to the things that happen to us that causes us to suffer.” ~ Pema Chodron

That is all for today.  I have lots I want to do, so I will update you sometime next week.  Leave a comment if you can and let me know how it is going with you!

A Detective Hunting the Culprit, or a Patient in the House TV Series Show?

I feel just like a detective on a hunt for an allusive culprit, or maybe one of those patients on the Bones Series who has some physical disorder that is a challenge to identify.  House, where are you.  I could take your personality if you can figure out what is going on with my body.  Here is where we are at so far:

I went to the urologist on Friday.  I got an all clear there.  

However, the roller coaster continues with ups and downs and it goes round and round.  I have been taking my antibiotics.  Sunday was a great day, Monday was a good day. Today, I felt lousy.

Today, I went to the neurologist.  Ruled out post polio syndrome. Very good!

Thursday, I go for a Doppler ultrasound imaging, which uses sound waves to check blood flow and measure the thickness of my carotid arteries. 

If that is an issue, we tackle it.

The next step will be to see an immunologist to see if I have developed an auto immune disease that could have been due to exposure to chemicals when we inventoried the house after it had burned.  After we had finished, we found out they could not demolition until a Hazat team came in to clean up the hazardous materials.

However, I had a nice surprise this morning.  I received an email that said I was a feature on the front page of the My Generation – Boomer Edition

Published by Boomer Life Media  May 29, 2012.

http://paper.li/BoomerLifeMedia/1311452367 which linked to my book video.  That was very nice of them to do that.



What a crazy ride, but I am charging full speed ahead in spite of the little rocks in the road.  I hope you are doing the same!

What next?  I haven't a clue...but, I will keep you in the loop if you want to visit back to check.

I have also received another invitation for an interview.  I let you in on that once it is all ready to go.

The Saga Continues...

AH3DEJRZ4EXG

My life has always been a series of challenges and I'm psychologically-prepared but this is the biggest challenge of my life. ~ Ronaldo quotes

On Monday, I took my last dose of antibiotic.  I wasn't feeling great, but a lot better.  I went to work that morning, and that afternoon to my doctor's appointment.  I told the doctor that I felt I needed additional antibiotics because the infection had not cleared up yet in my stoma.  My doctor is not a pill pusher, so I did not get a refill for the prescription.  Blood work was run before I left to test.  She added another blood pressure pill that would help retain potassium rather that deplete it. 

On Tuesday, I went to work once again. I was not feeling very well.  By noon, I was really having trouble breathing.  On Wednesday morning, I felt awful.  I was still having breathing problems.  That afternoon, I received a call from the doctor's office telling me that the bacterial infection in my body had reared its ugly head again.  The doctor had called in a prescription for the antibiotic with the instructions to take if for ten days. 

This morning about 2:30 a.m., I had a very severe asthma attack.  For a while, my husband I thought he was going to have to call the ambulance to take me to the hospital.  I finally got it under control with oxygen and my inhalers not to mention concentrating on not panicking, and work on purse breathing.  Eventually, I was able to lie down and dozed off for a little sleep. When I woke up at 7:30 this morning, I had another round with the asthma.  It was not quite as bad as the earlier attack, and with the same routine; I was able to get it under control.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment with the urologist.  Tuesday, I have an appoint with a neurologist to see if the breathing could be related to my round with polio I had at the age of four. 

The only thing I am sad about is that Saturday is my husband and my anniversary, and I know that I will have to cancel the dinner date we had planned to celebrate.  However, we celebrate every day we have together, so the dinner date can wait. 

In my own words: "...with love, faith and guts, I will not fear tomorrow, nor tomorrow.  I will live each day as if it were my last, and give as much as I am able.

Watch for an update...and, if you can do something that will help another person, do it!

 

Words for the Week on the Rocky Road

Strength

Courage

Confidence

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt  

This past week had been a rough one health wise, but I think that I am on the upward trail to getting better.  I have a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday for more tests to see if, or how much things have improved with the bacteria infection. 

This experience did teach me something new about being a bladder cancer survivor.  I had never had a urinary tract infection since my radical cystcectomy.  I cannot not say that anymore. I think that bacteria was in more places than the ole Indiana Pouch because of the other symptoms I had. 

I go Wednesday for follow-up tests to see if the antibiotics worked, or if I need more.  I am hoping they did.  I will keep you updated.

"Bacteria keeps us from heaven and puts us there." - Martin H. Fischer

Exciting Day along the Rocky Road! Just have to Share!

This entire trip of sharing my story has been exciting, but I think today was one of the most exciting of all. I am still in a state of shock over what all took place.  If you read my bio, you know that I am a coordinator for an academic resource center.  That is a place that provides a variety of services for our college students such as library/research resources, tutoring, orientations for classes and a study area.  We have a company that provides printer kiosks which is WEPA™.  I have been interacting with one of their staff members, and I was apologizing because I had forgotten to email him back with some information.  I explained that I had been on the telephone with the publisher and Julie Weishaar, and with the publisher because of the book release coming up soon.   

On a whim, I put in the link to the book trailer.  It wasn’t long before I received an email back from him wanting to know more about the book.  I replied with a description of the book and about the book the book sales going to the American Bladder Cancer Society.  The next thing I knew, there was a reply from him saying that he “talked with Frank our CEO and we would be interested in helping you out with promoting your book.  We could run an add on all of the kiosks at GMC (screen saver).  Do you have a digital picture of the front of the book or all of the books?  I think that it is great what you are doing for ABLCS!  Please let me know if we can help in any other way.”  I was overwhelmed by that wonderful gesture.

Later that day, I received a request from Patricia Kubus to write a “blurb” for the back cover of her soon to be released book that is the last in her Amanda Series.  I really didn’t know what to say.  Again, I was overwhelmed.  I wanted to do it because she also donates to a foundation that is for a very good cause.  Finally, I put together something that I thought may relate to her book and the reason she wrote it.  The funny thing about this is that after she sent it to her editor/publisher, the person wrote back with this request, “Before I do that though, I would need to know who the quote at the beginning is by (starting with “The truth is that life is harsh…”) If those words belong to someone, it’s important that we cite that person.” I had a good laugh over that because it was part of the “blurb” I had written for her and I thought I had set it up so that was very clear.  However, I took it as quite a compliment as well. 

That wasn’t the end of the wonderful surprises.  Later, I found out that Julie had nominated me for Todays Honoree at http://www.todayshonoree.com/.  I blush when I think of all the wonderful things she said about me, and I wonder if I know the person she described. 

I am getting emails from people telling me they love the book trailer, and the fact that I give the money from the book sales to the American Bladder Cancer society.  Emails are coming in to tell me to let them know when the book is available for purchase. 

I do believe this has been one of the best days of my life…except that is, for the day I married Tom.  

Stay tuned for updates!

http://www.behance.net/gallery/A-Story-of-Faith-Survival-and-Perseverance/3004817

Another Rock in the Road Conquered

To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity. ~ Samuel Johnson

Some of my Art: Survival

           Yesterday, I worked all day on the final draft of the book.  Early this morning, I uploaded it to the publisher.  However, it wasn't that simple.  For about an hour, I was in a panic because I could not find the file.  I am still trying to get used to the new operating system on my computer, and the updated software.  Finally, I did a search and discovered that I had somehow saved the file in one of my backup storage devices.  I was so relieved. 

            When I uploaded the file, I felt just like a mother with a new baby.  I was not sure I wanted to share.  As anyone know who has written a book, there is so much work put into it, and a lot of yourself as well.  Now, I will begin the other tasks that go along with having a book published.  The work is not over, but it has just begun.  I will be working on a publicity packet, a book trailer, all the other things that go with this adventure.  Hopefully, I will be able to get some reviews, press releases, interview and some chances for interview on other people's blogs.

            My main goal is that it will be of value to others, and inspire them to never give up even when the road gets really rough.  Will it sell, who knows?  I can only hope it does so I can transfer all the proceeds earned from the sales can be given to the American Bladder Cancer Society. 

"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." ~ Anonymous

You can learn more about me and my quest on the following websites:

Websites

www.sylvialramsey.com

Authors' Den Page
http://www.authorsden.com/sylvialramsey1

Amazon Author's Page

http://www.amazon.com/Sylvia-L-Ramsey/e/B002BMJ5NI/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1305578084&sr=1-2-ent

My other blog, Thoughtful Reflections features interview of others in the field of publishing and its link is:  http://tinyurl.com/4e52loe

More about Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith and Guts

I have been busy working with the publisher to get it ready for press.  There is so much to do, such as collaborating to get the cover just right.  The book has pictures, and making sure they are in the correct place in the script.  This is the part that I dislike, but it is necessary.  As soon as I know the release date, I will be relieved. 

I shared one of the stories in the book that happened my first two years of teaching in a high school, and that was 20+ years ago.  This is the one I posted on the blog with the title, Charlie's Story.  There is an update to that story.  Charlie called me a few days ago to check on me, and to let me know he is doing well.  I am not sure how much little things like touching base with a former teacher means.  Knowing that you touched someone, and somehow it made a positive difference is what teaching is all about. 

Because I directed the theatre program, coached the Speech and Debate team, taught art and speeches classes, I had contact with many students over the years that I taught high school.  The picture I am sharing was one of the musicals that included students in grades two through twelve.  The students built the sets, students made the costumes and it was their production. This picture was opening night, and they had a corsage for me, and gave me a trophy...which really belonged to them for all their efforts. It wasn't my play, I just helped them get there...it was theirs, and they made it a success.

An Update and Reflection, Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith and Guts

I have been busy working on the final edit of my book, and posting interviews on my other blog.  The time is getting close to sending the book to the publisher.  As I read over what I have written, it seems strange and as if, it happened to another person rather than to me.  I find it amazing that I survived all those rocks that were traversed along the way.  

I am sure I owe that survival ability to my father.  He taught me so many lessons by being a very good role model.  One of the memories I have of him was when I was about ten-years-old.  He had just bought a new mattress set for his bed.  He had just put it on the bed, but he had not disposed of the old set.  A couple of days after he had but the new set on the bed, I came home to find him taking it off and putting the old set back on the bed.  I asked him why he was doing that.  He said that a neighbor’s house had burned, and he was giving the new set to them.  I ask him why he was giving the new mattress set instead of the old one.  He said that when you give, you give the best you have to give. 

Another time, I had a small fender bender.  I came home and handed him the car keys because I figured I was not going to be driving anymore.  He asked me if anyone was hurt, and I said no.  He asked me to tell him what happened, and I described what had happened.  He chuckled, and then said, “Was that all?”  Then, he told me about the time he was backing into a parking space with the big truck.  He had not seen the fire hydrant, and backed right over it snapping it off causing a geyser.  I laughed as I tried to imagine the scene.  Then he said, “Sugar, we all make mistakes.  The important thing is to recognize them, admit them and then try very hard to not make them again.” 

He was active in the community helping anyone who needed it. He took people to town to shop on Saturday’s that did not have a way to go to get groceries and staples.  He served on the school board.  He was always doing something for someone who needed help.  I never heard him complain, and when the going got rough, he kept on going.  I grew up wanting to be like him.

My greatest wish is that anyone who reads it will be inspired to keep the faith, and never give up.  I hope they have learned to laugh at themselves, to cry with others when they are down, and give of themselves to help make this a better world. 

Another Excerpt from Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith and Guts, How I became a DJ in 1967

The excerpt begins right after I had moved back to a small town in Southeast Missouri, and was in the middle of divorce proceedings. This was in 1967, and there were not many women in broadcasting at that time.  Few people know that I was one of the first DJ’s on the air.  It begins like this:

I found a job at Montgomery Ward’s as the Head of the Fashion Accessories Department.  Again, I was working forty-five to forty-eight hours a week, but this time I made sixty-five dollars a week.  This was in the late sixties, and the world for women was still very limited when it came to jobs and pay.

It was a time when men were paid more for the same position.  The men who were heads of department made a little over one hundred dollars.  I really did not think that was fair.  I was the head of my household, I had children and I was stuck with the bills incurred while I was married, and the money was tight.  The manager who hired me said that I would get a raise in six months, when six months passed I had not received a raise.  Finally, I made an appointment to talk to the manager about it.  He laughed at me.  I told him that I really needed to make more money because of my situation.  His response was, “Why don’t you get a part-time job as a carhop.”  To say the least, I was appalled.  However, I had no recourse because there was no such thing as gender discrimination at that time. 

Just before I had gone to the manager to ask about my raise, the marketing director had asked me to make some radio commercials for them.  There was at a radio station, KWOC, in the little shopping center where Ward’s was located.  I made several commercials, and one day while I was there, I overheard they needed a DJ for the Sunday night show.  I asked the DJ who had been working in the sound room helping to record the commercials about the position.  He said it was four hours and the pay was twenty-five dollars.  I wanted that job.  I went to the manager of the radio station, and told him I wanted the job.  I know he did not take me seriously because in those days, it was a man’s world.  He told me to “go get one of the guys to make a demo tape, and he would listen to it.”

I immediately went to the recording room, and snagged the DJ who had worked with me on the commercials.  I told him the boss had told me to make a demo tape, and I asked if he would help.  I made the tape, and returned to work at Wards. 

The next morning before I went to work, I stopped in at the radio station, and asked the manager if he had listened to the tape.  He said he had not but he would try to get around to it that day.  I went back after lunch, but I got the same response.  I returned the next morning, same answer.  I returned on my lunch hour and after work.  After doing this for about three days, he was really getting tired of seeing my face.  This time when I arrived at his door, he said, “You really want this job, don’t you.” I said that I did.  He said, “Oh well, show up Sunday evening for work.”  

On Sunday, I was early.  The DJ that was finishing his shift sat me down at the microphone.  He showed me the log, how to work the cassette tape for commercials, and the eight tracks for station ID’s.  He said I had to pull my own records for the show, and I had to go up front to get the AP news that came out on log sheets off the teletype machine.  I had to edit this to make a news broadcast.  He took me back to the microphone.  He said that if I flipped the switch to the left, I was on the air, and when it was straight, I was off.  There were three turntables.  One was for the FM, and that one used 331/3 records.  The other two were for the AM broadcasting, and would be the ones I used for the live show.  He told me to stick to middle of the road music.  He said I was to take phone calls for requests.  All this was done in a matter of minutes, and then he walked out of the room and said, “It’s your show, baby!” 

It was my show and it was called, Easy Listening with LaVon!  I was excited, but I was also filled with fear. 

What happened  that first night on the air and later, is the rest of the story.  You will have to read the book to know the outcome.  It is funny, embarrassing and even scary!