Losing A Friend

Last Saturday I received some very sad news that a dear friend of mine passed away from a lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis, he was only 21 years old. He had a lung transplant earlier last year and had been doing well and then started going into rejection but was stable, then in December before Christmas he ended up on a venelator in the ICU, doctors said his only hope would be another lung transplant, but he wasn't strong enough. His mother had to make the decision of turning off the machines. However, he woke up and said he wanted to fight, the doctor said that it was a miracle that he woke up and he had not seen anything like it in all his years. Still on the venelator he was number 1 on the transplant list. Sadly he eventually said he no longer wanted to fight because he felt that the chances of recovering were very slim, and he wanted somebody else who really needed a pair of lungs to get them. He bravely chose to die peacefully with his mother and brother by his side. 

Finding out that he passed was very sad, but I was happy that he was no longer in pain and he was now home with God. My friend had always been an inspiration and a beam of hope and courage and he will be greatly missed. I sometimes ask myself why good people like him have to die, but that maybe something we can't explain. We must accept that God wants us all to eventually come home, whether we as individuals or our families our ready. Everything happens for a reason.


Joyful Love
         &
Blessings In The Lord
Alexandra K. Acosta

Going Past The 3 Month Mark

When I started this 18 month long treatment, the doctor said that at about 3 month mark they would have to evaluate my progress to whether or not to continue with the treatment or go on to something else. Well I am pleased to say that I made it past the 3 months and this month will be my 6 month of treatment (give or take). According to my test results my SI joints look really good, which means the chemo is working. I still am having challenges with pain, swelling, and stiffness in my joints and still have difficulty walking. I am working and fighting very hard each day to get better and get back to having a normal life. I still have about a year left of treatment, and I am planning to get through it will all the strength I possibly have. I know that I could not have gotten this far without the support of God, my family, friends, and my medical team. I know that each day is a new day and I am thankful that God has allowed me to be able to continue to live each day to the fullest. 


Joyful Love
          &
Blessings In The Lord
Alexandra K. Acosta

Sitcoms For The Sick

Being home quite often, and having days where I just can't do anything because I feel so miserable, I try to find different things that will cheer me up. One of those things happens to be watching sitcoms. Some of my favorites are a bit older such as the Golden Girls or the Nanny, but i also like watching the more recent ones such as Still Standing, Reba, Will & Grace, and The New Adventures of Old Christine. Watching these shows provides me with a sense of common relief and often perks me up. My grandmother always tells me to watch something funny so that I don't have depressing and negative thoughts, and watching sitcoms is a way for me to do that. It doesn't even matter what the subject of the episode is, as long as I can get a good laugh out of it. So if you ever find yourself in sad or depressing mood, sick or not, turn on a sitcom. You may think the episode is completely pointless, but I can guarantee you that something in the episode will give you a good hard laugh and perk you up. 


Joyful Love
         &
Blessings In The Lord
Alexandra K. Acosta