Monty and Me and Some Red Pants
My name is Mary and I just turned 27 years old. I live in New Orleans with my dog Monty. I just started attending community college in preparation for nursing school. I’m just going to make a bulleted list of things that are a part of me and my past. Here they are in a quasi-chronological order.
I stole orange flavored tic tacs when I was 4 and my dad heard them jiggling in my osh-kosh-bgosh overalls and made me return them to the gas station.
I am the youngest of four siblings. I have two older brothers, Nick and Doug, and an older sister Amelie. They are my favorite!
I used to be an awesome gymnast then I became suddenly sick and never got better. I was diagnosed with fibromylagia/chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome at age 9.
My dad died of cancer when I was 12. He died on the toilet. No joke!
High school was terrible. I am in awe of people who loved high school.
I graduated from LSU with a degree in journalism. College fucking rocked.
My mom re-married a dude named Roger and in the middle of college, HE died suddenly. Yeah, that happened.
I studied abroad in France while in college and that was one of the best times of my life.
My mom re-married again, we’re keeping our fingers crossed…
Last year my illness really intensified and one morning I felt too weak to walk. We found a specialist in Miami who has been a miracle worker and diagnosed me with Lyme Disease among other things..but I lost my job, apartment, and boyfriend in the meantime. Major life reconstruction has begun! And now here I sit…blogging…
I am still recovering but am taking a few classes at a community college in preparation for nursing school. Community college..is…*awesome. Gooooooooooo DOLPHINS!!!
I love my dog Monty. Like a lot.
I’m in my early 30s and use to be a dancer. I quit long before I knew why I physically felt the way I did. I was misdiagnosed in my early 20s. I am finally starting to straighten out my health problems and have the proper diagnosis. It rough but having a positive attitude and a sense of humor can make all the difference.
Great blog.
I love that your blog gives me reason to keep reading!
Thank you for intelligence, inspiration and beauty, I look forward to seeing more!
I just found you through Freshly Pressed. I’m excited to explore. I was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I’m glad to read that you are pushing through all of your obstacles!
Wow, you’ve been through a lot at a young age. My mom also went through the same series of auto immune disorders, but did all her own research because the drs really didn’t help her. We’ve learned a lot. Have you tried altering your diet? Taking inflammatory foods out really help because our food supply is so toxic. Let me know if you would like any info on this. I really believe that food is medicine and pills will kill you!
Kudos on your blog and sharing with us your thoughts….Open, honest, and straight forward:) Although I don’t have the same illnesses as you, I do have enough other health issues that leave me taking multiple meds on a daily basis:) You have a good attitude and you’re not letting your illness stand in the way of achieving your goals – - -Way To Go!!!! Keep up the positive attitude:)
Mary,
I found your blog through Freshly Pressed. I’m a retired nurse with fibro. I wish you much success as you struggle though the health stuff to become a nurse! I just guest posted my fibro story on a friend’s blog: lupuschronicles.com Hang tough, and keep your sense of humor!
Lois Roelofs (loisroelofs.com)
Mary you are wonderful! I can certainly relate to the family issues. . .I’ll tell ya about it sometime.
Hang in there, life is quite an adventure and the older you get the more interesting it is.
Stay strong! You’ll get better!
See James Altucher post on how his wife got cured from Lyme desease!
Alright so I mentioned your blog in a post of my own because I liked it so much. If you’d like to see it: http://bethylicious.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/versatile-blogger/
Don’t feel obligated to participate if you don’t want to. I just did it for fun and for lack of anything more compelling to write about today
thank you!!
You get no shortage of “you’re awesome” comments, but here I sit giving you another one! You’re awesome, strong, talented and you have a shit load of charisma, just through the written word. I can’t imagine what you’d be like in person. I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy your blog very much!!
Wow. You’ve been through so much, yet you stay so strong. I love your blog, especially the brothers and sisters post. I have two older sisters and they can be a pain sometimes, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I’m sorry to hear about your illnesses and I hope you feel better soon.
I’m pretty sure you’re going to make millions as a brilliant writer because, well, you’re brilliant! Yep, you might just become famous too. BOOM.
HI! Only read your ‘about’ post and I’m a new follower! I too suffer from CFS and Fibro, along with Vitamin D deficiency. So it’s nice to see someone dealing with the same sort of stuff, and with what seems to be a positive attitude. Humor is good for you and keep it up, if not for your readers, but for yourself!
Go generic comment go! So…I threw you into my Versatile Blogger ‘award’. In other words, I like(a lot) what I read here, and I think other people will too. Smile or ignore this!
Keep on reinventing yourself to confuse the pain! Great blog. Sincerely, fellow fibro mutant and southerner.
Hey,
Liked your blog. Was also diagnosed with chronic fatigue and Lyme disease at one point. Found a great doc in MD. Totally saved my life. Was bedridden before. Anyway, if you want any recommendations let me know.
Hope your health improves
I also nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. I love you blog and I’m so glad I came across it while nominating people for the award! The link is below:
http://inlalalandd.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/the-versatile-blogger-award/
Congratulations Mary – I just nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award. Go here to get details:
http://lovethewayyoulied.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/the-versatile-blogger-award-2/
Best Wishes & Happy Holidays
great writing and i love the ‘about’ section…lots of unbelieveable stuff happens to pretty otherwise normal people. see mine: http://mikehilbert.tumblr.com/whoismikehilbert. Best of luck and keep writing. You are really bueno!
Wow you’re hilarious and courageous… should have thought of going into the social work field. We need more people like you out there to help us! Keep writing because tons of people will keep reading.
One word for you – AWESOME! I actually have several that popped into my head but I wanted to make a statement..hee hee. I’m hooked on your blog…I will be getting my fix daily(or as often as you post)!
Thank you….simply thank you! You totally get it! Hugggggs!
I enjoy reading your blog…gives me lots of laughs. I nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award…you can check out details on my post.
what’s the Versatile Blogger Award?
You just got nominated for that 7X7 Link Award. How do I know this? Ah yes, because, I nominated you. You’re wonderful.
I’ve been told we should be blog BFFs. Because after all if there is one thing a 27 yr old lady with a disease can do….its blog in gross detail about it….AmIRight?! Keep on Truckin’. I’ll keep reading.