First Semester

                What a semester it’s been! My first blog was about a week of hell I had in the beginning of August. That was only the start of the past four crazy months. Sadly, the end of August finished worse than the beginning. Hurricane Harvey hit our area causing major flooding and devastation. Many lost their homes, cars and some lost their life. Less than a week after the storm hit, I found myself in the Emergency Room with excruciating abdominal pain. I was admitted for observations overnight only to find out early the next morning I needed emergency surgery to remove my gallbladder. “It’s a simple surgery” they said, “only two hours” they said, “it will be performed laparoscopic” they said, they couldn’t have been more wrong. The surgery lasted over seven hours, they tried to operate laparoscopically, but ended up cutting me centerline about six inches. When I woke up in ICU, I knew something went wrong, very wrong. I spent a couple days in ICU and almost two weeks in the hospital. Finally, I got to go home with three drains still in place and was told they weren’t getting removed for six weeks. It was a terrible ordeal, I couldn’t leave my house for days. It bothered me at first, people staring, some even pointing, but after cabin fever set in I had to get out, even if it was just to the grocery store and I had to use an electric cart. After eight weeks off, I was able to return to work, although with several restrictions from my doctors.



Time Magazine

 

                Not only have I missed work but school as well. I had finally taken that big step to return to school after 11 years, and not just regular classes I signed up for hybrid courses, with accelerated learning, but then illness struck and shook my world. I’ve already missed so much, how will I ever catch up? I can’t quit, that is no longer an option, because I’ve done that too many times. I have to try, I have to give it all I’ve got! If I fail I’ll just have to take it again; but if I quit now, I’m afraid it will be for good this time. Luckily, I was blessed this semester with two very understanding and compassionate instructors who allowed me to work from home and turn in some assignments late. I’m very fortunate for this or failing would have been the only option. I’m still nervous to see my grade for this. I promised myself this time would be different, I wouldn’t quit and I wouldn’t settle for anything less than A’s and B’s. This is something I’ve preached to my children for over 18 years, why wouldn’t I hold myself to the same expectations? Needless to say, this won’t be the only semester with trials and tribulations, it’s just a fact of life. We all have issues, we all fall on hard times and we all have our lives that require our full attention. I just pray and ask God for his guidance and will to be done in my life and the lives of my classmates. We’ve completed one

semester, now there’s just four more to go; we’ve got this!

 

 

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