I feel relieved, bittersweet, I think. I will miss the money, and some of the work, but it was a horrible environment for me to be in, quite honestly. I loved the people I worked with, but the energy was all stress. When I am completely honest, I just couldn’t do the job because I was too tired a lot of the time when I was there to function mentally. I forget so quickly how much I’ve been through and what my body has to go through to just function every day when I feel well-I work as hard as I can and I see my “old” self come though. However, those days, honestly, kick my ass and I end up having to sleep for 4 days nearly without interruption to recover from it. It’s depressing and frustrating to me that I cannot do certain things that others can, and that’s why I’m really upset. I’m also worried about what my fiance (soon to be husband) and I will do financially, and what I will do about health insurance.
On the other hand, this opens a lot of doors for me. I have more time to help out with CCFA stuff, and to finally make it a priority to find a career, not just a job for a paycheck, that I can do and that I will enjoy.
Life with Crohn’s and a J-pouch is not easy, but I’m glad to have it.

These posts might also help out:

• December 29, 2011 -- Loss & Gain (2)
• August 5, 2010 -- Crohn’s…Again? (7)
• November 10, 2009 -- Just Dance! (8)
• December 8, 2010 -- Cleveland Clinic, Day 1 (6)

Dear President-Elect Obama:

We believe you will bring change and a united spirit to our country. Our letter to you is not political, but it is the voice of a family that has struggled in the American health care system to manage life living with a serious chronic disease.

In the opening of your acceptance speech you stated:

It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America. 

(Transcript excerpt from Cnn.com)

Your words are beautiful and applicable to the future our country. Thank you for including all ages, all races, gender, sexuality and disabled and non-disabled Americans in your speech. Please know that 90 million Americans are living with chronic disease.  These diseases challenge families and quality of life every day. We struggle with health insurance, rights at work, and equality when living with illness.  Please take extra measure to protect our rights with health insurance and stem cell research. Also, watch the chemicals allowed in our everyday products that may be facilitating disease.

We hear your words to unite this country and we believe that under your guidance that a voice of gentleness, compassion and kindness is the future of our country.

With hope for a more compassionate America,

Mark & Megan at ucstory

Hear Obama’s acceptance speech here:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrXkBuWNx88&feature=related]

These posts might also help out:

• March 15, 2010 -- “You’re Fired.” (15)