When a Fun Day for Me Would Be Awful for a Healthy Person

I remember my brother once telling me that if he throws up, that’s it for the day. His day is over. No work. No school. Vomit equals cancel all plans because he is officially sick. Of course, growing up everyone knew that vomit at school equaled a parent coming to get you to be pampered the rest of the day.

In general I still tend to think of myself and my life as fairly normal overall. Sure, I’m on disability and I don’t work anymore, but other than that and the increased medication and doctor’s visits, I usually think we’re all pretty similar. I recently took a moment to really look at what a day can look like for me and how that might be interpreted to someone else.

This weekend we decided to drive about an hour to visit some friend’s at their lake cabin. Along the way I had to throw up. Whether it was due to motion sickness or just the regular “my digestive system isn’t working right,” it doesn’t really matter. My husband was actually laughing at me because I went from commenting on how pretty the fall colors of the trees were, to instantly leaning out the door and throwing up.

I guess for some people that would have been the end of fun at the lake cabin.

While spending time together we went on a 4-wheeler ride and stopped at a playground. For an instant I wasn’t thinking about my autonomic nervous system being faulty. For a moment I saw a fun climbing wall leading up to the top of a play structure. The old me loved working out and challenges. Without thinking, I climbed up the wall as quickly as I could. Once I reached the top I realized I should check my heart rate as I saw trees starting to fade in and out and spin. Upon seeing 240 as the result, I quickly got as low and flat as possible. I lost consciousness a few moments later.

I was in and out of consciousness until I was carried into a car as 4-wheeling was deemed not an appropriate choice. I spent time using oxygen and chugging Gatorade while I recovered from my faints.

I can’t help but wonder how quickly that would end a day of fun at a lake cabin for someone else.  Yet for me, after recovering and laying down for a while there was still plenty of time to watch football and play cards. I guess that day could have been a horrific day to someone else.

To me, it was a fun day at a cabin with friends and that is what I really remember when I think about it. I’m so thankful for the ability to have perspective and the choice to focus on joy and the happy points of the day.

Follow this journey at Smiles In the Trials.

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