An Update – This and That

Special Needs in Strange Worlds is over. I always have a blast doing this event, and I find myself deep in thought for a long time after. Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed. I am sorry I didn’t have more new posts, but life kind of dumped on me and I had to work with what I had. Still, I think it worked out really well.

In other news, my two-surgery month of May has wiped me out. I have half of about four different reviews written but I’m having some pain management issues so I’m rather medicated. I sleep more than I do anything else and my mind struggles to function a bit. Things upstairs are foggy. I feel like the lights are on but no one is home. I am hoping to get reviews posted next week, but until then, it’ll probably be some radio silence.

And regarding reviews, oh, I am so behind. I have so many reviews I need to post and write it’s not even funny. I am hoping to feel good enough to keep this page busy for a while.

Thankfully the second surgery was successful. I ended up with a four disc fusion, a rod, a bunch of screws and some cadaver bones in my spine. I’ve lost mobility (you always do with those surgeries, and it sucks to lose mobility at 30, but oh well), but I think I might be getting some feeling back in my right leg and foot so that’s a plus. Doctors say it might take up to a year for my nerves to start functioning again, so it’ll be a year of waiting to see just how much of my right leg and foot I’ll be able to feel for the rest of my life. That’s fine. I don’t mind that at all. At least the nerve pain is 100% gone, and for those of you who have felt nerve pain, I dealt with it for two years. It’s bliss to have it gone. Complete and absolute bliss. I’d forgotten what it’s like to not feel that. There’s nothing like nerve pain. Nothing. And mine was constant. Even if I have to walk with a cane for the rest of my life (which is a possibility, depending on if my nerves come back. I have balance issues due to the lack of feeling in my right foot), I’ll be happy with it because the nerve pain is GONE.

To keep myself busy I’ve been doing a lot of photography. Not a ton of new stuff as I’m still hobbling around with a cane, but I’ve been editing some older shots and last weekend I did feel good enough to actually do some new photography, which was wonderful. I then entered it into a contest and my shot is currently first place, which surprises the holy hell out of me. It’s viewer’s choice, and the top 4 get published in a magazine and go on to the next round. Contest ends Sunday, so I’ve been basically whoring this photo out because life has been very hard recently, and this staying in first place in this HUGE contest thing has been the best thing that’s happened to me since I got my “cancer free” diagnosis a few months ago.

If you want to vote, please do. You can vote once a day. You have to be a member of the website to vote, but it’s free and easy. You can find the photo here.

cancerAnd as for cancer, I went for a checkup last week. He did an ultrasound and found nothing. NOTHING. It’s just completely surreal that after two years of fighting the cancer monster, I’m cancer free. June 2 was National Cancer Survival Day, and it’s a little late, but I found this picture last night and it fits, so I’m sharing it.

So here’s to you, all my fellow cancer survivors. Cancer will always leave its mark on me. I have scars on my soul that will always be there and I’m still emotionally healing. It’s a process, but it’s a great one. I’m lucky, and I realize that. I fought a battle and I won, and I’m proud of that. I’m proud of all of us who fought and won, and I am humbled by all of those who fought the battle and lost.

Anyway, that’s where I’m at. Still healing. Still in pain, but life is getting better and I’m so behind in reviews it’s pathetic so hopefully I’ll have them going up on this website really fast starting next week. I thought I could do it this week but I’m still a bit foggy.

And I sincerely hope you enjoyed Special Needs in Strange Worlds. It’s always such a humbling, incredible event. I’m honored to host it.

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