An invincible summer

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An invincible summer

8 September 2011 by stillmilestogo

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. ~Albert Camus

Sometimes those of us with chronic illness get so caught up in the can’ts. The shouldn’ts. The mustn’ts. I decided to focus this summer on the things I can do. From embracing the lives of loved ones lost to adventures in lands (not-so-)faraway. So we celebrated, joined, conquered, ventured, traveled, laughed, cried, and smiled. And we experienced life. It didn’t matter that I did most of it hooked up to at least 3-4 tubes at a time. It mattered that I did it.

Now that the summer comes to a close (thank you, labor day), I thought I’d go through the tradition of writing the back-to-school essay “What I did this summer.” Then I rethought. And decided I’d show you.

What I did this summer:

{And wished her Happy Birthday}

{At the 2011 UMDF Symposium in Chicago}

{With my Great Aunt Arden at the Sears Willis Tower}

{Lab safety is a must while tutoring}

{Sisters Day Out – Southwick Zoo}

{First time at Niagara Falls – Maid of the Mist}

{Seneca Falls, NY – With two of my most influential people – On the bridge from one of my favorite movies, It’s a Wonderful Life}

{For the first time since my license was revoked for seizure activity}

{TPN bag, enteral tubes, and all!}

{White Mountains in NH with my favorite in-laws}

{Haven’t attempted this since I was a gymnast – take that mito!}

{At the 2011 Mighty Matthew Benefit in Plattsburgh, NY}

{We love you, Princess Eithene!}

{So blessed to live in Boston, the Medical Mecca of the World!}

{With 4 adults, 2 kiddos, 2 dogs, and a partridge in a pear tree}

{Disappointing from the weather standpoint, but fun nonetheless}

{With a grand closing to a grand summer!}

And no one can say I didn’t do. Because I did. I really did.

Posted in At the Doctor's, Birthdays, Blessings, Boston, Change, Chronically cool, Coming together, Family, Friends, Home sweet home, Hospital life, Immune Deficiency, Invincible Summer, Kiddos, Life Line, Love and loss, mito, On the road, Party Time, Sick and Tired, Sleep, Smiles, Stealing words, Sunshine, Symposium, The Cans, The storm, Tutoring, umdf, Vampires | 6 Comments

6 Responses

on 8 September 2011 at 11:45 am | Reply Sue Hertzog

What a fabulously impressive summer!!!
on 8 September 2011 at 12:23 pm | Reply Ruth Fanta Hertzog

Well, you sure did more than I did!!! Loved all the adorable pictures. Hugs. Gammy
on 8 September 2011 at 8:24 pm | Reply Sheridan

I LOVE this post, my friend! You surely did it and you inspire me to do the same…release the fear and just go for it. I have always wanted to sky dive and it is in fact the first thing on my personal Bucket List. I think I may have found someone who would do it with me (hint, hint). While we may frighten the pants off of the instructors as we enter the bulding to sign up with our bags filled with TPN and lines snaking under our shirts, your wheelchair and my cane…but darn it they will love us and I imagine will be thrilled to be with us on our journey. So, what do you say? Sky diving by the end of next summer so it can be a part of your Summer of 2012 photo essay?? 🙂

Hugs,
Sheridan
on 9 September 2011 at 9:37 am | Reply sarah

one of your best posts yet! only thing you are missing is consultation with a mad physicist (that’s me) in a secret plot to take over earth. 😛 i am so happy for you that you had a summer full of so many joyous things ❤
on 10 September 2011 at 7:28 pm | Reply Debbie Merrill

This is a happy post, Chelsea, and I do so love the photo of you on the zip line smiling–ready to fly! I made a copy of it and have it posted in my classroom. Sorry, Keith, your photo just wasn’t as cute! I might still have a cute one of you on a goat skin rug right after a bath at age 2, though. My class might like that! 🙂
on 3 October 2011 at 8:38 pm | Reply Karen Conrad

I love this! It was a great summer! You did good!