Happy New Year to all my friends, family, and all of you that have kept track of me since this happened.

As you all know, I spent over half of the year in 2022/23 in the hospital or as Dave says, “235 days not that he was counting.” We made the decision to bring me home when I was diagnosed with the devastating news of ALS. I was able to come home February 8 of this past year and that was the highlight of my year. I love and treasure spending time with family, friends and caregivers. Conversation and simply holding my hand means so much to me. Those that send me texts and messages daily I read them and they  give me strength and something to look forward to, thank you. I also appreciate a special person who continues to send me cards, pictures and letters on a regular basis letting me know she is thinking about me.

If you have been to visit me or seen some of my Facebook posts or here on CaringBridge, you know that it’s been difficult trying to find caregivers. But now I think I have the best three hired caregivers and when my family steps in and helps I can’t express how important they have been in my life. My husband and Connor live this journey every day with me. I can’t express how much they have contributed to my happiness and my safety. You know I am very fortunate that all my caregivers do the best for me. I have not been hospitalized since I’ve been home. Shout out to Dave, Connor, Emily, Tanner, Tanners, fiancé Claire and Sydney, Emily’s fiancé. They have never faltered in keeping our family strong. I have been able to travel making trips to Seattle, Orlando, (to see Mickey Mouse) and Milwaukee as well as North Dakota. Tammy and my mother took me over to see my aunt and cousins in Wisconsin which was such a great trip. I also was able to watch the fireworks the day after the 4th, huge shout out to Tammy and Dale’s neighbor ,Brian, who saved a grand finale for me. We have seen so many people that are special in our lives and many people who are special that we hadn’t seen in a while. I could name names, but I know I would miss someone so if I saw you this last year know, I enjoyed our visit.

It would be horrible if I missed the special people who put a benefit together for me and my family. The benefit helped with medical expenses and home modifications in order to be home, and gave me purpose to keep fighting.They put in so much work and made me feel so special. The amount of people who came was amazing. The donations and the support of the Mankato community was so overwhelming. There was not enough time to talk to all of you that night. We saw you, felt your shoulder taps and appreciate you.

My doctor was sick with Covid, so I was not able to go to my December appointment. However, Dave and I have decided to switch over to Rochester Mayo Clinic to continue my doctoring with their ALS team. They may have some different ideas or trials, but maybe not. This will also give us a chance to visit Emily and Syd and that’s really what’s important right now in my health. Being with family and friends is what keeps me fighting. Do I have a New Year’s resolution? Yes just live my best life One Day at a Time. I hope that if you can learn anything from my situation, it is that in a blink of an eye life can change. So live and love to the fullest now.

So I will leave it with this video with how I appreciate all of you: 

https://youtu.be/dQdfs5S6jyA