meganbeth.com

I was at work, and got a text from my mom asking me for my dad’s cell phone number. I immediately knew something was wrong. Then a text from my sister, “dad’s in an ambulance, on the way to the hospital.” Everything turned into a blurr and I ran outside and around the corner and called my mom. She said that she didn’t know which ER he was going to, all she knew is that he fell and she was on a wild goose chase trying to find which one they were taking him to. Tears started streaming down my face uncontrollably and I had to remind myself to keep breathing.

My dad has Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 5 also known as SCA5. SCA5 is a rare genetically inherited disease which effects the cerebellum, the part of the brain the controls coordination. It is very hard to diagnosis and treat because so little is known about it. Symptoms of SCA5 can vary greatly, but one of the major parts is balance.

He had fallen again, and popped his shoulder out of it’s socket, and cut open his chin. They gave him medicine and if he didn’t respond to it, there was a possibility of having to do surgery to put his arm back in place. After trying several different medications, one finally knocked him out and they popped his shoulder back in. While my mom and sister were waiting for him to come out, the nurse mentioned to my mom, that he did a really good job, and was really very brave.

In the last few years I’ve learned that everyone has secrets that they shield from the world. Everyone has struggles, pain, suffering, hardships, grief and sorrow. I debated on posting this to the internet world, but I wanted to show you that I am no different…this is my struggle and my pain.

We are a family, we have each other, and WE WILL get through it, with my very brave father leading the way.

If you would like to make a donation to the National Ataxia Foundation in my dad’s name,
Michael, to help in the research of SCA5 please click here.

While at work, the delivery guys kept going back and forth with a hand cart piled high with food. I look at the guy and I’m all “hey…so you got any chocolate/cookies/or ice cream on ya, cause I’d be willing to take them off your hands.” He chuckled and unloaded his last stack of boxes, and off he went. Ten minutes later he walked back in the front door, although this time no hand cart with boxes. Hmm. Odd. But ok.

He came up to me with a bag and handed it to me. “Here, I got you some cookies. It’s my good deed for the day.” OH MY GEEWILLAKERS thank you so stinkin much! If I would have known him, I would have squezzed him so tight, he would have a permanent Megan imprint hug.

For the rest of the night at work, I chomped on these guys, and with every one, thanked mr. delivery man.

Later in the evening I was pleasantly surprised when I turned around and saw my mom and sister at one of my tables. I LOVE when people come to visit me.

A few hours later a very grumpy and tired server returned home only to find another fabulous surprise. A Desk. Which, might not mean a lot to other people, but I’ve been dying (literally) for a desk. I sit hours upon hours at my computer, and my back just couldn’t take sitting on the floor anymore.

It’s nothing fancy, just an old table my mom painted back…but my mom and sister snuck into my room while I was still at work and set it all up. I can’t thank them enough. I LOVE IT!

I’m not sure what I did to deserve all this nice-ness. Although maybe it was the sign on my back that read ‘PLEASEEE be nice to me, cause I may just loose it, and I will take you by the ear, shove you in a cream of mushroom soup can, and ninja chuck you off a cliff into the ocean.’

THIS IS WHY I hate flying.
I probably shouldn’t have read that, but I just can’t even imagine.

Here are some of my favorite people…and they just all happen to be some of my aunts.

My beautiful, Auntie.

The hilarious, Aunt Jeannette.

And, last but not least, ninety-two year old ball of fire, Auntie Ann.

What have I been eating lately for my past midnight snack, you ask…?

A batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies,
and a big tall glass of milk(funny cause I don’t even like milk, but it does the trick)

I have been on a strict weight gain diet for a couple months. And I figure five or six of these a night for a while,
should do the trick. It’s hard work, but hey, someone’s gotta do it.