Journal

A lot of remarkable things happened while we were working in Kona for UofN Kona.  One that I want to focus on for my friends in DS - I was very concerned about my back.  It had gotten a lot worse over the winter (even after seeming to get better).  I started taking cortisone shots which helped but hurt my immune system so I had a killer case of shingles - it seemed like I felt sick or hurting all the time.

In Kona, I got very focused on what it was we were trying to accomplish.  On top of that, I had to walk everywhere since we didn't have a car and if you know Kona, it is on the side of a big mountain (volcano actually) so everything is either UP a steep hill or DOWN a steep hill.  Our office was at the bottom of campus, and the cafeteria was toward the top... so, I did a lot of hill climbing and stair climbing.

Either I have become accustomed to discomfort so that it doesn't get in my way, or my back has done some healing - in any event, I'm not even taking Alleve or Advil on a regular basis anymore and feeling much better!  I'm more active, and my back injury is not the focus of my daily life anymore.

Wow - what a journey.  It has been 9 months since my back surgery.  Baruch hashem that things seem to be back to normal.

Ready to start cycling and mountain climbing again - just in time for summer!  YAY!