One Two Three Four

I spent 8 hours in the hospital on Friday. It took four tries to get the IV in but eventually we got it!
Four units of plasma later my pee was back to yellow!
We are still not sure what was wrong with me, blood tests, urinalysis and a CT scan revealed that everything was normal.
So I am home now safe and sound resting up.
It was my Dads turn to spend the day with me this time and it was nice because we got to spend some quality time together. Eight hours of quality time.
While at the hospital I also got to meet another hemophiliac. A factor one hemophiliac in fact, which is very rare!
It was interesting to meet with him and find out what his challenges are.
I also encouraged him to get involved with the Canadian Hemophilia Society which I think is a great idea for anyone. It helps you to realize that you are not alone and that there are people just like you struggling with the same things.

A pretty good year

Well I am sad to say that tomorrow marks the end of a pretty good run for me! Tomorrow I am going to the foothills hospital to receive four units of Fresh Frozen Plasma (plasma is a part of your blood that helps you clot.) This next transfusion will be the first for me in a year. That is the longest by far I have ever went in my life without blood. Pretty exciting stuff!.
It all started about a week ago when I got a urinary tract infection. I went to the family doctor, got some antibiotics and went on my merry way.
Sunday night a noticed that well to be frank my pee looked like red wine.
So I spend the entire day today in the hospital it took four tries to get an IV, lots of blood work taken and a CT scan. Only to find thay well we can't find whats wrong with me.
I must say this is rare for me, normally after a few tests we know whats up.
The good news is my vitals are good so I don't think I am in any serious danger.
But I have to admit that when I completed the urine test and saw what was in the container I started to cry. I often bleed internally but when you actually see the blood its a different story. It's scary.
That wasn't the worst part of my day either, while I was in the bathroom I over heard Zane telling his work that he couldn't come to work because he wanted to be at the hospital with me. That really broke my heart. It is bad enough that I have to take time away from my life but when it starts cutting into the time of the people you love it really takes a toll on you!
On the bright side I am lucky enough to have someone that actually wants to sit by me all day and is nice enough to bring me chicken fingers and cinnamon buns!
So with that I will Thank God and head to bed as I have a long day ahead of me!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

I love Saint Patrick's Day!
I loved it when I was a child because I loved making green cookies and pinching people who weren't wearing green.
As a student I loved going out and drinking green beer and celebrating with friends
Don't get me wrong, I still like celebrating but since I met my fiance Zane, Saint Patrick's Day reminds me of Zane's uncle Patty.
Patrick was born with severe Hemophilia. Ever since he was a baby he suffered many bleeds and eventually died at a young age from complications due to Hemophilia.
If you meet Hemophiliacs today, it's hard to imagine someone dying from the disease. They are vibrant, healthy young people that on the outside look perfectly normal.
That is only because of the hard work the Canadian Hemophilia Society has done to advocate for patient care, the research and new treatments in the medical world and all the hard working doctors and nurses who ensure patients get the treatment they need.
I am so happy to walk into a room full of hemophiliacs without seeing canes or walkers or anyone limping or in pain.
It's a wonderful thing that we can live the way we do.
However, I think it's so important that we remember the people who came before us, the people that bled until their knees swelled and just didn't have the level of care that we have now.
After all we owe a lot of what we have now to them.

To a different drum

Over the weekend we had yet another successful Hemophilila event. We gathered at a local community hall to host a drumming session.
The drumming was fun and it was nice to get together with everyone.
During the session we all sat in a circle, there was about 20 of us so it was quite a large circle.
As I looked around I noticed that there were only two people in the room who actually had Hemophilia , myself and another lady.
There were eighteen other people that were there simply because they know someone with Hemophilia or care about the cause. Sure there were probably some people there for the free food or the free drumming session but mainly people were there to support us.
For a second it was really an amazing feeling to know that all these people were there for us.
I am lucky enough to have had that experience in my own life. Its never been just me alone in this fight. I've always had lots of friends and family to help me through.

Hemophilia Bracelets

For as long as I remember I have worn a Medic Alert Bracelet (Or a hemophilia bracelet as I like to call it.)
My mother always tells me about how when I was a child I would try to rip off my bracelet or take it off. I just absolutely hated it.
As I got older, they came out with really nice jewelry through medic alert, necklaces, pendants and bracelets, which were actually really nice and didn't clash with my style or whatever style I thought I had as a teenager!
Over the years I have tried all of them but the bracelet seems to be the best. The one I have right now matches my watch so most of the time people don't even know that it is in fact a medic alert bracelet.
When I was at a conference in Ottawa I met a guy who had his medic alert information tattooed onto his wrist.
I thought it was a great idea because it was unique and he never has to worry about losing his bracelet!
Whatever method you choose wearing your medic alert bracelet key! It can save your life and in the end what is more important than that!?

Happy Birthday to Me!

So I just had my 27th Birthday! It was great. I got lots of beautiful cards and gifts. I had a birthday party as well and that was a lot of fun!
Every year when I have a birthday that I am able to enjoy with friends and family I am so happy.
It reminds me of my 13th birthday that I spent in the Childrens Hospital.
It sounds awful I know, but looking back on it, it wasn't too bad.
First of all, it was great to have my whole family together. My mom had quit her job to come stay with my while I was in the hospital, my older sister Kelli came to visit me from University and my father flew down from Alberta.
For my birthday we went to Pizza Hut and I will never forget it because it was the first time we were all together again since my parents got divorced when I was 6.
It was also a good birthday because my doctor who was only a resident at the time, made me a birthday cake.
The staff also had a cake for me and sang me happy birthday! It was really special.
I guess it just goes to show you that no matter how bad things get, you can still find some joy. I feel like I have been doing that my whole life and sometimes I get worn out and tired of it, but so far i've always been able to smile after it all.