A long, winding, and gradual narrowing road to healing:
The journey to a return to health has been long—this year has been dedicated to traveling that road. Severe symptoms and an accidental fall sent me to an emergency room twice, as well as to a bevy of medical specialists: gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist, and lately a surgeon who specializes in endocrine system challenges.
Of course, I called upon my local healing practitioner community as well, including those who practice Reiki and intuitive healing, acupuncture, naturopathy, deep tissue massage, and functional medicine. Plus my support team of friends, housemate and husband helped me in every phase of this long haul. They pulled together funds when I couldn’t work, drove me or drove with me to important doc appointments, even dressed me and figured out what to wear when I was all bound up, helped me with braces and slings, and helped figure out appropriate pain meds for this sensitive person.
All did their best to bolster me in my varying moods and modes and memory lapses. Every single one of them has a place in my grateful heart.
This trip I didn’t plan for led to a particular diagnostic destination and treatment: On October 15, I had 2 parathyroidectomies—removal of 2 parathyroid glands swollen with tumors. The 4 parathyroid glands: my education on the importance of these tiny glands has been a rapid fire seminar about something I never even heard of. Their main function is to distribute the calcium we consume. And if that distribution is askew—even a little bit—it can have far reaching consequences, including brain fog and gut distress and brittle bones (hence the severity of my arm fracture). For more information on the parathyroid glands’ function, symptoms and surgery, visit https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyperparathyroidism/symptoms-causes/syc-20356194 and http://endocrinediseases.org/parathyroid/parathyroid_background.shtml .
Post journey, I am now re-building my strength, my chemical balance (especially calcium distribution), and work life and my every day reality. I am changed in ways both physical and indescribable. Though the world looks like the familiar old world previous to my journey, I also see differently, in fact I see more.
Truth. I see more and feel more and therefore am changed for the rest of my life.
If you’re still with me, here is an example of what has changed in my view: As much as I thought I was intuitive and could basically “read” people, I discovered that there is still so much that is still hidden from me. And if that’s true, then there is so much hidden from all but true mind-readers—and even they have to be mindful (ha!) of the mystery of the human mind. In other words:
We really don’t know what’s going on in people, so we need to not take anything for granted or make assumptions about anyone.
For instance: For the first 9 weeks after the fall that fractured my dominant arm’s humeral head, I wore a brace and a sling. These items were visual prompts alerting people to the fact that I had something going on and perhaps they shouldn’t grab my hand or shake my arm or even hug me.
As the bones healed though, the brace came off. And in time, I’d leave my sling at home because I didn’t need it to support or stabilize my arm. And that’s when new troubles began: Any time I was out and about in public, I felt like a moving target for huggers and hand shakers and arm grabbers. Mind you, I live in a very hug-prone world of spiritual and loving people, so I avoided quite a few social events. That’s right, huggers were my #1 “enemy.” I was even bear-hugged by a woman who thought that hugging equaled healing—that hug sent me into a tailspin of pain for days. So I cooked up a strategy of wearing brightly colored athletic tape on my hurt arm, even if I didn’t need it. I drew hearts and Xs and words on the tape. “Caution, Healing Wing” was one of my go-to signs. Even so, the huggers kept coming. It’s only recently that I am back to attending a new thought church—too many hugging opportunities in those churches.
Which brings me to this: There are lots of people who do not welcome hugs because of personal boundaries or other reasons that need not be named. So…ask! Ask if a person welcomes a hug. This is how I’ve asked for years: "Would you welcome a hug?” or “Are you a hugger?” The huggers are so happy to respond “Yes!,” and the non-huggers are relieved to gently shake hands. As well, please don’t shake hands vigorously with someone you don’t know…it could hurt!
I’ll write more on other insights later, but for now, I want to express my gratitude for the journey, and for all the participants in the journey—huggers included. Thanks for your prayers, lit candles, healing energy, positive thoughts, notes, texts, letters… Thanks be to Great Spirit who guided me to my good on this path.
I am back amongst the living and thriving. Let’s go and do some good, shall we?
love and blessings, Elke
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