SIckle Cell Foot Ulcers: They're Healed!

In spite of the difficulties I'm having with my hips, some positive things are happening. I mentioned in the post, "Blood Clot No More!" that the clot in my left leg is gone. So that's good. It's been two years since my last hospitalization, and it was six years before that. But what I'm most happy to report this week is the two leg/foot ulcers that I have had since March of 2012 are 100% healed!

From June of 2010 to June 2013 I have had a total of ten foot ulcers. When at their worst, nearly half of my left foot was covered with open wounds. When I had to clean them, the pain was so bad at times that it literally made my heart hurt. To go from never having had a single foot/leg ulcer in my life, to having ten very severe ones over a three year period...it's been a challenge.

I understand now why and how some people loose limbs from wounds like these. When they appear, they can go from not too bad to VERY bad in a crazy short period of time. If a person is unable or unwilling to: 1) take the time to properly clean them; 2) endure the pain of cleaning them; 3) receive proper medical care; and 4) stay off their feet...the wounds will only continue to get worse and heal time will be lengthened.

The past two years has certainly been a trial of faith and patience. Thankfully I've had countless people praying for me, I've had the support of family, and excellent medical care. I wish I could believe that I will never have another foot ulcer again; but the truth is, it is a new complication that I don't see ending any time soon. I'm certain another wound will arise in time. But until then, I will protect my feet and legs and manage my health as best I can.

While it is true that I am struggling with the reality of needing a wheelchair, there still are blessings in my life. In addition to my wounds healing and my clot being gone, I've had very few pain crisis the past two years. This has been a gift from God. With the amount of pain I experienced with many of my wounds, it should have thrown me into a pain crisis; but it didn't. With the high amount of pain I am having in my hips, that too should be triggering more Sickle Cell pain than it has.

While the pain crises are there--in fact, I've been having a mild one for about a week now--the crises aren't/haven't been as bad as I know they could be. So like I said, some good things are happening.

I pray you can also see, acknowledge, and give thanks for all the good things in your life. I am certain there are many.

Nearly 40 Years Old with Sickle Cell

I recently had communications with a young man who told be about a "very very close friend" of his who died from Sickle Cell Disease three years ago. I am always struck hard when I hear or read of such passings. It helps reaffirm to me how truly blessed I am.

Of my 116 hospitalizations, there were many that brought me to the brink of death at a very young age. From ages 9 to 19, my health was not nearly as stable as it has been from ages 20 to 39. Many of those childhood hospital visits were nearly my last; so many in fact that I can't remember them all.

There was a huge chunk in my life (I'm guessing from ages 14 to 28) when I would have been more than happy if God had called me Home. In fact, there were times in my mid-twenties when I begged God, with tears streaming down my face, to end my life. The idea of living another day was repulsive to me for a very long a time.

By the time my 30th birthday came around, a change had occurred in my heart, mind, and soul. I realized how selfish I had been for asking what I did. There was/is much in my life to be grateful for and to live for. For example:

I have three siblings that are quite a bit older than me. Between the three of them, they have given me eleven nieces and nephews. I remember holding each and every one of them in my arms as infants. Now, nearly all of them are adults. Several are married and have children of their own. Witnessing their marriages, watching them become parents...it's something I NEVER believed I would live see.

I've had experiences and built friendships that have impacted my life in powerful and positive ways as I have theirs. Every year I grow older, I am more surprised than the last to still be here, and more grateful as well.

My 40th birthday is nearly two weeks away. 40! I never dared to dream I would still be here; and I never dreamed I would be as happy as I am to still be here. It's a wonderful blessing and I'm very pleased God didn't answer my selfish prayers to take me Home when I asked Him to; and I'm so grateful I never took my own life, as I contemplated many many times in my twenties.

I admit, the past two years have medically been the most challenging of my life. There certainly have been moments when I thought, "God, please just take me Home." But those are thoughts that quickly pass. As much as I sometimes would love to be rid of this broken body of mine, there are a great many things in life I love more.

I hope every single reader of this blog embraces the truth that life is worth living. Yes, life can be hard. Yes, our condition will/does bring many challenges; but it's these challenges that make us who we are and make us better than we were. I truly pray you each cherish your life and find joy in it.

Trials and Blessings of Sickle Cell

I have to admit I was pretty depressed when I wrote the post “Not Cleared for Surgery." Nearly two weeks have passed since then and the black fog of depression has lifted; though there still is some haze.

Previously I have written how important it is to remember that “Somebody Has it Worse Than You.” No matter how bad things are, this is always true. And I have to admit, it’s a concept that I have not applied as I should have over the past few weeks.

On the news for the past week or two there has been a story about a ten year old girl who needed a new set of lungs. Unless she received those lungs within ten days, she was going to die. This poor girl was stuck in a hospital for, I don't know how long, relying upon a machine to help her breathe. Thankfully, with only a few days left to live, she finally received those lungs and went into surgery on Wednesday. Listening to her story on Wednesday really hit me on at the core.

I’ve been so depressed over the idea of spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair. My thought was, “I’m thirty-nine years old for crying out loud!” But I finally woke up and realized: my mind and intellect are in tact; I can read; I can write; I can draw; I can drive; and I can still do many things. I’m not stuck in a hospital bed; I don’t have to have a machine help me breathe; I’m not a child fighting for my life praying that somebody dies so I can have their lungs, and most likely feeling bad about that; there are many, many, many things that I’m not battling with. What right do I have feeling sorry for myself? Somebody, many-bodies, have it far worse than I do.

My objective here is to help readers of this post remember what I finally did, that things could be worse. Though the trials we are facing today seem, and in truth are emotionally taxing and a trial of faith, there is still much to be thankful for. Rather than thinking on all the things you or I cannot do, embrace those things you and I still CAN do; and there are many.

There is a facebook page entitled Sickle Cell Warrior, As survivors of Sickle Cell Anemia, there is much we battle in life, thus making us warriors in our own right. My brothers and sisters, as warriors we must always keep the shield of faith close to our hearts. I pray each of you find the courage and strength to always count your blessings, trust in God, and endure your trials well.

Sickle Cell Foot Ulcers: Nearly Healed

I am really encouraged by the state of my foot ulcers. The two newest wounds on my right foot have completely healed! The ulcers that I've had since March of 2012, they are very close to being entirely healed also; finally.

The wound that was nearly 2.8cm long as of May 1st is down to only 0.2cm. I'm hoping and praying that in a week's time, it will at last be nothing more than a memory. The second wound that what was about 2.0cm is now about 0.6cm long now. Each and every day it looks better than the last.

These two lingering wounds have been such a pain; pun intended. I know I have no cause to complain about these year long wounds. Some patients struggle with foot ulcers for ten or fifteen years! I have to say, when I read that, it both filled me dread and an appreciation for my situation.

As I've mentioned in other posts, Manuka honey has been working really well for me. I've learned that Manuka honey is a must have for treating these wounds. There are times when it slightly burns after applying the honey, but it fades after about fifteen minutes.

I am extremely grateful that an end to these lingering ulcers is at last in sight. I'm hoping--as I have many times before--that these wounds will all be healed in a month's time. I've been hoping for that for the past five months, but this time is different. This time I can see notable improvement in the wound's condition each and every day. Needless to say, that is highly encouraging.