Each Day is a Blessing

This weekend I was able to go home and spend some quality time with my family. It is honestly very hard going through all of these medical struggles and being away from your biggest support system. However I feel rejuvenated and ready to take on this next week.

Earlier today I went on a hike. It was a hike I had been on many times before. It's about two miles all uphill and then two miles back downhill. It took me twice as long to complete the hike than it normally does and that's when I really realized how much my Chiari is effecting my life. I'm a person that tends to just work through things and not even notice how it is truly making me feel. Ever since my diagnosis, I've been consciously more aware of my symptoms, what is normal and not normal. I realized that I actually have a consistent pressure within my skull. I thought that was normal, and I guess it is normal on Chiari standards.

Back to the hike.. I love hiking. There's just something about the satisfaction of getting to the end and the pure bliss of looking over the edge of a cliff. Last summer I hiked all the time, and I did this particular hike multiple times with no problem. Today was a great day and I loved being outside, I just see now how much the Chiari is part of my every day. The pressure kept increasing as the hike continued and I became much more fatigued faster than ever before. When I ended the hike, I was pretty proud of myself for making it. I just now know that I really can't do more intense hikes before surgery, or I guess even after for a little while.

My title of this entry on my blog is that every day is a blessing. As I was reflecting on my day, I realized I was thinking a lot about how much pain I was in. Then I started thinking positively. Today my blessings were abundant. I was able to experience a thrill of a hike (even though it was a doozy), I got to hang out with my sister and best friend for hours, and I was able to have a nice dinner out with my entire family before heading back to school. It's the little things in my daily life and my support system that will get me through pre and post surgery times. Today I am blessed, just like I am every day. #CMstrong