Thursday, May 26, 2011

Everyones Got "IT"

I've been gone for while. I quit blogging. I quit a lot of things. But I have a good reason. And yes, it has funny elements to it, because most things do, you just have to find IT. So here IT goes.....

My sweet hubby and the kids were all sitting in church. I was the last to join them. I sat down next to my husband and began whispering about plans after church.

Then "IT" hit. At the time, I didn't know what "IT" was but I did know this."IT" would cause me to go completely paralyzed. "IT" looked like I had a blood sugar problem- which I didn't -and "IT" had only happened 2-3 times in the past month, and "IT" was happening at church, in front of everyone. And "IT" was about to become a really awkward and life changing experience.

I looked at my hubby and said. "IT is happening again."

Trying to not cause a scene, my hubby whispered, "IT will be okay."

My head went down into my lap and though my eyes were closed, tears fell all over my cute pencil skirt.

My hubby took my limp head and propped it up on his shoulder.

Now the Tears were covering his blue dress shirt.

He managed to pass the sacrament to the kids with one hand, while propping up my head with the other.

And though "acting natural" was his main goal, "IT" had never lasted this long in the past, and "IT" was not ending.

"I'm going to pick you up" he whispered in my ear.

The ironic thing is that when "IT" happens, I can hear everything. I never loose consciousness, but I can't respond. My mind began to race. My knight and shining armor was about to drop his sweet little princess flat on her butt. How sad.

But I couldn't move, I couldn't respond.

"I'm going to have 2 other guys help me"- he whispered.

Nice. I can hear them talking to their wives later, "You know Sister Evans is much heavier than she looks...."

And like a dead horse, they picked me up.

Up my legs went in the air with with my red boots dangling. UP my bra went towards my chin.

And all I could think was, 'Im so glad I can't see what I look like."

Then the men laid me down in a room off to the side. Immediately other specialist, Dr.'s and Nurses came to help. I didn't know what was happening which made IT even worse. After 10 minutes of shaking, and being unable to respond, IT calmed down and I began to regain consciousness.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw all the people trying to help me.

"Holy Sh---!" I whispered, and then "Sorry" in the next breath.

Then IT hit again, and all I could think is, "I might be dying and those were my last words!" NICE.

As I was laying there, bra gently edging towards my chin, I was hoping that "IT" was a temporary problem.

2 weeks later "IT" got a name. Cataplexy and Narcolepsy.

And through my experience over the last year and a half, I have learned that everyone has an "IT". IT just has a different name for each person. Sometimes we can see IT, but most of us hide "IT" pretty well.

And "IT" has a lot of baggage. Because "IT" took a lot of things from me, such as:

*IT stole my independence

* IT drained my savings

* IT caused me to loose my home

* IT paralyzed me 20 to 30 times a day

* IT took away all my superficial vanities

* IT requires a lot of attention

But here is the beauty of all of our "IT's". For everything IT takes away, IT always give more back. And it's ironic how that happens. But even as I write this post, I struggled to find what IT has taken, even though I see "IT's" losses everyday, and I have cried countless times over IT. IT gives so abundantly, that IT is tough to ignore.

* IT forced me to slow down and listen to my children ( when I am paralyzed I can hear but I can't talk :))

* IT forced me to stop being a workaholic

* IT stirred up a strong sense of gratitude for everything I ever had and now have- including my health.

* IT took away my superficial vanities. ( NO matter how cute I think I am, I can land on my butt any minute)

* IT forces me to take life one day at a time, rely on God, and let go of expectations.

Now with treatment, IT shows up 3 times a day instead of 20-30. But since IT will never go away, IT allows me to keep learning. And IT has become a beautiful gift with really ugly packaging.

So I hope that whatever IT you might be struggling with, you can see the beauty, the perks, and how brave you are to deal with the IT in your life. And never think you are alone.

Everyone has IT.

10 comments:

  1. I Love this! I love how well you express yourself! And I am so happy you're doing this blog again! Love you tons!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is so fabulous! I have a hard time finding anything good come from my "IT," but I will definitely try harder now. Thanks for sharing. I am so glad we became friends before you left Mona.

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow, that was really powerful. I look forward to reading more of your blog posts! thank you for sharing...and you are SO right...we all have an "IT!" and it WILL be okay. :) xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm so so glad that you started blogging again Jodi. You are an inspiration of flourishing with adversities. I have IT and this has helped me look for the good that IT offers. Thank you for that. Love you.
    Becky Allred Larsen

    ReplyDelete
  5. IT took you away from me, so I'm still mad at IT. I'm glad you're not, though! Texas is far, but I'm so glad that you're still blogging so I can still feel your warmth through your words. I love you Jodi! You and Isaac are indeed missed!

    ReplyDelete
  6. You will always be a wonderful woman I admire, with or without IT.
    Love,
    Mom

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh Jodi, you have such a way with words! You are amazing and I'm so glad I know you and can keep in touch with you still. Keep posting. You are an inspiration to us all!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have 2 IT's - my ex-husband and my husband's ex-wife. ;)
    I was glad to have a little insight to your IT. And you expressed yourself so well.
    I used to blog all.the.time... but I've been a slacker. I love reading blogs though so I'm :) to see you have one.

    PS. Joselyn is my fave girl at Activity Days. Don't tell anyone I told you though. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I hear you completely on all of this. I'm so sorry it had to be such an embarrassing experience, but those of us with narcolepsy, especially with cataplexy, learn how to cope with IT, and I'm so glad you've found your positive spin. I'm so sorry to hear that your IT has hit you so hard! I mean, in general it's overwhelmingly stressful and degrading at first, but once you learn your tricks, and become comfortable with it, then it's just a thing you have to deal with, like asthma or allergies. Sorry to hear you lost so much, but it's great that you recognize what you've gained. My method was to tell everyone- even people I just met- scientifically, accurately, but in a very chill manner. They'd always say, "isn't it scary?" or "ooh, doesn't that kinda... stink?" And I say, "yeah, but I'm cool with it. I do what I can. I'm okay." Thanks for sharing your blog with me, and the followers of the Cataplexy page/blog on facebook.
    Here for you if you need me,
    Audrey

    P.S. You've learned about what not to wear, right? Like skirts that don't do well when falling? And draped material at the neck? And intense heels? Just a tip from one narcoleptic to another.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love you Jodi! I just stumbled upon your blog tonight and I'm so glad I did. Thank you for the things you shared (even though I just realized this post was written last year :). You are brave, strong, beautiful and amazing and you said several things I really needed to hear tonight. Love you girl.

    ReplyDelete