The Gentle Barn

www.gentlebarn.org

This is an amazing program that I recently found via the Ellen Show.  I only wish I lived closer to be able to help hands-on!!!     

The Gentle Barn Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1999 as a safe haven and place of recovery for abused farm animals and children. We are home to over 120 rescued animals and we are host to at-risk, inner-city and special needs kids.

Our unique treatment philosophy rehabilitates animals and connects their stories of survival and healing to the personal experiences of at-risk and special needs children who have suffered physical, mental or emotional trauma.

Through the interaction with our animals, the children learn forgiveness, courage, strength, leadership skills, trust, empathy and kindness. The healing that takes place is truly miraculous!

Be sure to click on the link below and meet the guests of the Gentle Barn and read their stories!!!  :o) 

http://www.gentlebarn.org/virtual_barn.php  

Infusion Day

Infusion Day. Not always the best day for me but necessarily the worst day either.  This particular visit has me 2-weeks past my regularly scheduled appointment, due to a recent strep/sinus infection.  For those who don't know,  I get an infusion of Remicade every 6-weeks.   "REMICADE is a biologic therapy that recognizes, attaches to, and blocks the action of a protein in your body called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha is made by certain blood cells in your body."   Most days, since my diagnosis, I'm have a pretty up-beat, easy-going, deal-with-the-cards-I've-been-dealt kind of attitude but today, not so much.  


"Mrs. Baumann", the nurse calls as she opens the door.  I smile.  "You ready?"    "As I'll ever be." I say.  So with that, I put on my "happy face" and walk into the infusion room.  The infusion room isn't much to brag about.  It's a small room that holds 4 hospital-issued, blue recliners, a couple desks for the nurses and a nurse workstation.  For our entertainment, however, they have a 13" tv mounted on the wall which, btw, doesn't get the best reception.  We make small talk while they are taking my vitals, poking my left arm with the IV needle (I prefer the left side so I can still use my right hand) and setting up my IV stand with my meds.  The drip starts and now I sit.  Being hooked up to an IV machine for 2.5+ hours was not in my "long-term",  or "short-term" for that matter, life plans.  I didn't ask for this.  I don't want this.  I'm certainly not feeling sorry for myself because that isn't going to make me feel better or make this RA go away.  I just get ANGRY at what this "disease" can do to people. 


I also watch.  I watch people come into this small room with pain on their faces.  Some walk with a limp because RA has effected their hips.  Some use a walker because they just can't walk without help.    Others have issues with their hands, back, and shoulders.  And then there is me.  I can walk fine.  I can still use my hands, with some limitations,  so I should be thankful, Right?!  But  I can't help but wonder what lies ahead.  What is going to be taken away from me as I get older?   Will I be able to do ALL the things  I enjoy most?  Running?  Stand-up Paddling? Yoga?   Are my hands going to be deformed?  Will it make me ugly? (Yes, I know that sounds vain but... )  Deep sigh!  My thoughts are taking me down a road I don't like to visit often.  Now I'm sad.   I hold myself together until  the infusion is finished but when I get into my car, the tears begin to fill my eyes.  They start slow but then quickly it turns into a good ol' fashion, sobbing, soul-cleansing  cry.   


"Damn it, Kelli", I say, "pull yourself together!"    And just like that, I wipe my tears and pull myself up by my running shoes.   


I believe that I have been given a voice to raise  the awareness of rheumatoid arthritis.  Now, how I'm going to use that voice?  That is what I'm going to figure out but I'm pretty sure it will have something to do with running and our stand-up paddling!   


to be continued.....  

No Ordinary Day

Sometimes I have to go to the doctor.  You know, the "primary care" doctor.  This probably happens twice a year at most, but yes, it does happen.   Though my throat had been hurting for a couple days, I went about my life, ignoring it;  thinking it would just go away.  But then, the unthinkable happened. I woke up with more than just alittle throat pain.    I couldn't smile or even open my mouth to make more than an "ahhh" sound.  Crap!!  Not today I thought. 

Let me back up just a bit.  This particular day was no ordinary day.   This particular day was my daughter's 10th birthday, my niece was coming into town for a week and on THIS particular day, we were heading out for an  overnight camping trip in our new travel trailer.  NOT the best day to try and squeeze in a dr. appt let alone be sick.

Dr. confirmed my worst fear!  Strep throat and a sinus infection.  Great!  Prescription in hand, I head to the pharmacy for a z-pack and a couple boxes of kleenex.  Relief is on the way.  Right?!

Feeling like I had been hit by a ton of bricks.  Scratch that.  Feeling like I had been  hit by a dump truck full of a ton of bricks, I get home and continue packing up the trailer for our birthday outing  with a smile on my face, head full of "gunk" and my ears echoing every sound anywhere near me.  

A week has since past.  My ears are still echoing, my head is still full of gunk but the strep has cleared, the camping trip was a huge success (a little wine helped that happen) and my daughter had a great birthday!   Yeah.  No ordinary day but a pretty good day over all.