Love. Support DONATE Help. Gwen

A few months ago, I had a skin infection on my back that lead to unraveling the version of life I have fought for and gained again and again. 

Without reason or explanation a skin infection erupted on my back -cellulitis, MRSA, flesh eating bacteria After enduring two surgeries and spending 10 days confined to a hospital bed, I was left with no choice but to take an extended leave of absence from work under the FMLA.

Adding to the overwhelming burden, upon return from FMLA I found out was transferred to a property 30 minutes away from my previous position where I also reside. For a myriad of reasons this transition equated to a demotion in every sense of the word. Clear message that FMLA was covered by the minimum of the law - 

As my medical leave wore on, I balanced the intense gratitude for ALL that I have as well as the harsh realities and the anxious worries of the future. Although my physical wounds were healing, the ongoing disparate treatment by my employer on my mental health was unbearable.  As y’all know - i HAVE to stay on top of that NO MATTER WHAT.  I will be honest and say there were a few touch and go days…. But thanks to my partners and friends who so specifically and deeply showed me compassion grace and encouragement without judgement. I successfully managed to get my determination and some energy back. It’s has been a wildin roller coaster, but I keep coming back to the top. I also credit the ECT treatment I did when I first got here for saving my life in regards to battling/alleviating suicidal thoughts. SO yeah. WHEW!

During my extended medical leave I had daily bandage changes for the wounds for 3 months, only 3 days/week covered by home health care. I was expected to have the rest covered myself. I previously had been living alone, but by the twist of fate I had opened my home to a friend who is also battling a complicated reality of fighting breast cancer and the end of a marriage. However we ended up here in time and space - at least we have each other! We were both on FMLA and fiercely determined to make the best of it. I dubbed us the kimono wearing Elder Millennials -  some bite-sized, modern and tragic version of Golden Girls. There was chaos: delayed benefit payments, car repossession, hospitalizations, and too many pets all tempered with long late night talks about mental health, pep talks while on hold for hours with insurance, endless pizza rolls and watermelon rockstars. We bonded in the relentlessness of disappointing news and the resolve to overcome no matter what. 

Collectively my amazing partners and friends/family (near and far) stepped up and went above and beyond on a daily basis! They changed bandages, came to visit, picked up supplies, provided transportation to dr appts, eternal listening and compassion for each new phase. Hero’s.

In those darkest moments, as always the incredible people in my life supported me across the spectrum of kindness from  SNACKS to encouragement  to changing bandages on a daily basis. I could go on endlessly detailing the people and actions they took to get me through everything. 

In the last week I finally began to share the severity of the situation as I have not yet been able to secure full time employment and the eviction date approaches

Regardless how this turns out or the next part of the journey I am on, I will rise above despair and rewrite the narrative. I am a fighter, I am a survivor, and like a cat-a-roach - I have at least 9 lives and I can survive anything….