I truly detest promotion-based blog posts, yet recognize that it is a very necessary part of being a freelance writer and artist.
Having said this, please allow me to bring you up to speed, which I’ve had on my to do list since mid November 2021, as I wanted to let my readers know I’ve had another life disruption… but thankfully one of the consequences has led to a true blessing bestowed on me by the B THE DIFFERENCE foundation.
B THE DIFFERENCE’s logo (seen directly above) is a turtle, which is a creature with whom I’ve identified (featuring these animals here on Blogger and in my book, IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS).
The foundation, B THE DIFFERENCE is back from the holidays and I am most grateful to be a recipient of their generosity.
So, dear reader, upon reading this, you may be asking, what is B THE DIFFERENCE?
It is an organization which was founded in October 2011 by Stephanie and Jessica Merritt to honor the memory of their brother, Brandon, and they have shared the fact that Brandon was 8 months old he was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis (NF), a disease targeting the nervous system by developing tumors on nerve endings.
As readers of this blog undoubtedly know, NF, is a disease that I was born with (which is discussed in one of my first blog posts as well as in many posts thereafter); and my having it, has impacted my life on many levels, some of which is described in my book project Imperfect Strangers.
It can be viewed on Vimeo and/or You Tube.
Evidently Brandon never asked “Why me?” when NF compromised his ability to play sports and interact with children his age—if anything (according to his family), Brandon’s physical disabilities allowed his personality to become incredibly nurturing and sensitive.
I must confess that there were times I did allow NF to restrict me, perhaps that’s because I grew up in a different era, or maybe I’m just a complainer at heart.
BUT I digress…from my “explanation” re my uncharacteristic absence here on Blogger:
The following photos of me were taken at an Emergency Room in NYC (Mount Sinai, 59th Street) on Saturday, November 13th, 2021.
At the urging of CITY MD, I had gone to the emergency room on that day because I had fallen the evening prior and my symptoms were worsening.
Here is the situation:
As I said, I had an accident on Friday, November 12th, and sustained an injury.
Turns out I had a proximal humeral fracture, which, as you may know refers to a break involving the area surrounding the humeral head, commonly known as the ball of the shoulder’s ball-and-socket joint.
Brittle bones are a symptom of Neurofibromatosis and I’ve broken many bones in my lifetime, including the first month of 2020 when I broke my Greater tuberosity! So it was not all that surprising for me to learn the extent of my recent injury to my arm.
In any event, the following day, after a brief visit to CITY MD, I received advice to go to the emergency room where I spent 4-5 hours undergoing X-rays which determined the type of injury I now have.
The upshot is I saw an orthopedist that following Monday who is associated with Mount Sinai hospital and he confirmed the severity of my fracture and the need for me to have Open Reduction Internal Fixation Surgery (ORIF)
BUT this surgery could not be done until 11-22-2021 as I needed to go to appointments for medical and COVID clearances which I did, and I’ve now had that procedure!
One of the after surgery “needs” that the doctor and anesthesiologist recommended for me was to wear a pump for a period of five-six days to release opioids in increments in a safe manner, but ultimately my pump (unbeknowest to me) was cutting off my oxygen leaving me nearly unable to speak and cutting off air circulation.
The pump was originally set to be removed permanently on Thanksgiving morning and I had made arrangements for someone to help me with this, but due to the potential danger I was experiencing (inability to speak and inability to breathe) its immediate removal was mandated.
Because the pump was on my back I could not get to it easily and the doctor warned me I could rip a “proper” catheter if I did not to it exactly right.
But be that as it may, I was able to pull the device off which gave me much needed relief.
Then on 12-1-2021, two weeks after my surgery, my bandages were removed.
During one of the days following surgery (I’ve lost tract of specifics), and, out of the blue, I received a phone call from Aisling Rice (Director of Operations at B The Difference), who had heard about my plight with Neurofibromatosis through someone who actively reads my blog posts and whom I am in touch with by phone and/or email but have never met.
The fact that I had suffered an injury involving my arm had nothing to do with why I was contacted… it was just serendipity, or evidence that perhaps my guardian angel is working after all… for I’ve now been informed that I am the recipent of a generous grant (from B The Difference) to cover part of a medical need.
