I'm sorry...

I know I'm boring old news. Heck, it's more fun to watch paint dry than to listen to my on-going sob story. I'm annoyed of my own story and, I don't blame everyone else being "over" my "cancer journey". I'm sorry it isn't very entertaining.

Most of my friends are married with children, or whom are expecting children. It's beautiful. They are giving life to a little baby to which someone gave birth to. Friends my age are evolving and having families. I so desperately want to visit them all but I worry about getting the little ones sick, or my health concerns interfere with plans we put in place & and penciled in.

Excuse my langue, but even my geriatric friends are more energetic than I am. I think to myself daily "shit, how can I screw things up, or they not like it. I try to follow all my doctors instructions explicitly, everything from top to bottom. I'm still a mess. I had my 7th year anniversary of my diagnosis on April 7th. It was my golden anniversary....whoo hoo!! 😷😔

Family and friends I do see all approach me with their "kid gloves" on, like I'm going to break at any moment. I understand. My health is unpredictable. They are just being cautious, but I know my own body. I can ALWAYS use a hug. I am a grow-up the kid gloves are not necessary. I am still a person. I joke around, laugh, sing in the shower and in the car, I want to visit family. I enjoy catching up with friends. It have been nice being back in my home, but I miss my husband, Buckley and his big old Saint Bernard head, and my cuddle-bug Milo!

I must admit feel I have completely lost any and all identity I once had. I am just a patient, just a number where ever I go. It's heartbreaking. My doctors don't seem to be as proactive as they used to be. If they are giving up on me, then what is the point in me continuing along this path? The pain is unbarable and we have to travel so far for me to get the blood infusions and iron infusions I need. It's the worst feeling in the world. I'm useless and disposable.

Each one of us has the opportunity within us to write our own futures and forge forth toward our own opportunities. I have learned to face my fears and take chances in life , before it's too late.

Life is a book - Your book

Life is a book,
Written over ages,
It is not what is on the cover,
It is what's on the pages,

Sometimes dark storm clouds roll in,
These clouds invade the sun,
Taking over the sky above,

The lightening strikes and the thunder loudly cracks,
Rain pours down to nourish the earth, and provides a fresh start for us all
Mother Nature is healing itself, and allowing us to view our lives at a new angle and through untainted eyes. The light is much clearer.

Light comes just when you thought you've lost all things into the darkness.

We all have that light inside us. Don't let it burn out. As long as that fire inside is still flickering, the passion is still there. Hold on to that light, and always reach for the stars!!

Cancer changes us all...

I'm sure you are all very busy with your own everyday life routines and necessities. I would never want to add any extra stress, or burden to your lives in any way. I would like to offer a proposal. I suggest that on days we have "free" time, or can allocate some "personal" time, we take full advantage of the rare occasion. It's surprising how revitalizing it can be taking a few moments to read a newspaper articles, in its entirety, or the entire newspaper. When is the last time you have gotten lost in a good book. Wouldn't it be lovely to enjoy a picnic on a warm spring day with the company of someone you adore at the park without having to watch every move every child takes. Feeling the sun warm your skin, the scent of fresh flowers floating in the air, the calming waves of the ocean, the lake, a river, or a babbling brook near by. Wouldn't it be nice to just close your eyes and take a deep breath of that delightful fresh air! Breathing in those glorious scents as we rock back and forth in an Adirondack chair enjoying a soft breeze and the companionship of lovely friends and family. The time flies by as we sit and rock without obsessing over the many tentions throw our way. Before we know it the day has turned to night. Thankfully, we are still comforted by the beautiful spring night, the enchanting conversation beneath the twinkling starts. In that moment, we allow our worries to fade away for an instant and we entitle ourselves to a short instance of serenity. Those moments are all too rare. Don't forget to savor them, hold them close, and store them in your memory for those days when you feel as those you can no longer hold on to the life you're living. No "rut" is too deep to dig out of, especially if you're willing to ask for help when you need it. It's those significant times in your life that will give you the strength to pull yourself through even the darkest of hours.

I have had to call on many of those memories lately. The minute I am about to lose hope. I'm talking seconds away from "rock bottom", the tables have turned(or at least shifted), and I am given my second, third, fourth, etc ounce of hope again. My faith in humanity gets restored, even if only for a while. I have no explaination for it, no rhyme or reason, just pure dumb luck. Without it I would have been gone years ago. "Sure as shit". Please excuse my language, but I would have never made it to 30 years old. That's for sure. Either someone wants to see me suffer through this life, or my Grams, Gramps, my aunt Sister Pat, and those whom have passed before me are "pulling the strings" up there and keeping me on my "game". They must see something in me I haven't been able to see in a long time now. My family has always been a bunch a tough "old birds". It's not easy to take one of us down! I won't back down. I've said it before, so I might as well say it again. I'm gonna go down swinging! Never without a fight!

So many supporters from all over the nation/world have offered me encouragement. What kind of coward would I be if I let all of those people down? I cannot, and I will not do it. I am so unbelievably grateful that I have a match lined up for my bone marrow/step cell transplant. I hope and pray I will be able to get the funding required to begin the process of procedures needed before my health deteriorates further. If my condition worsens, who knows what the outcome may be. It my be beyond the point of repair. Between all of my current medical bills, the pre-procedure costs, the transplant, and post procedure care...the numbers are alarming!!!! It's terrifying! I had absolutely no clue how much of an epidemic this has become in America. Too many people die because they cannot afford the care they need! Too many people get disability when they don't truly need it, and people like me suffer without any form of financial aid! It makes my stomach churn! We are familiar with the costs and uncertainties of healthcare and medical costs. Everyday there is another hurdle to overcome, another hospital/doctor's office bill and they all become more frightening than the day before! The laws are ever-changing and the fine print gets longer and longer. More rules and regulations and many more hurdles to jump. With all of my current medical bills, the pre-procedure costs, the transplant, and post procedure care...the numbers are alarming!!!! It's terrifying! I honestly don't know if I find a facility, funding, etc if it will be a success for not. Nothing in life is guaranteed, especially when it comes to healthcare. My husband and I don't have that kind of money to gamble with. We cannot keep relying on family and we cannot have fundraisers constantly. I hate feeling like a charity case, but my options are very limited. It makes me feel very weak and a kind of like a loser.

The most difficult part about dealing with a serious illness is the isolation. Not many people want to "hang out", or "party" with a cancer patient. It's even more difficult now being 1,000 away from my husband. I currently need 24 care because of my serious aniema condition and my the spread of my cancer. We are also visiting other multiple hospital and cancer centers to find the best place for my treatment. If I do find the proper facility in the Midwest, it will keep me away from my husband and the home we built the together even longer. I'm not sure I can do that, but living off of only one income that is our only option. I never knew I could miss someone so much. I miss my little family(Jeff, Milo & Buckley)it hurts! Cancer hurts, but it doesn't compare to the heart break of being away from my boys.

The things I miss the most:
   - Holding my Husband's hand

   - The fact that he let me hug him as long as I need/want to
   - Falling a sleeping in my hubby's arms
   - Dancing to "our" song randomly in the kitchen, or living room
   - Going on "dates"
   - Feeling powerful, not powerless

   - His loyalty

   - His unwavering love

   - His huge heart

   - They fact that he thinks my "crazy side" of my personality is cute & fun

Cancer changes every aspect of your life physically and emotionally.  Some days it's difficult to get out of bed, others you just have to take one day-at-time. It's the little thinks that bring happiness. The smallest gesture can change the mood of an entire day. Having someone there to hold your hand or give you a hug when there are no words to be said. The hug, or a friendly caring touch says it all.

God Bless My Hometown

Strength is no longer a term I take lightly. The dictionary defines strength as; 

1. the quality or state of being strong; 
    bodily or muscular power; vigor.   
2. mental power, force, or vigor.

I define strength as something much more. Strength comes from within and becomes all encompassing. It becomes like another sense. It takes over without any provocation, but it only lasts so long before it too begins to weaken. The fear paralyzes the strength. It's terrifying. All I can do now is take life one of day at a time. Some days are worse than others. I hope I can hold on long enough to get the treatment I need. I can't deny that I'm scared. Each day gets harder. I'm blessed to have friends and family in my life to lean on for strength I no longer have. I need it now more than ever.

*The following is an article written by an amazing journalist Amanda Lutey associated with the local news publication in my hometown. I am honored to share it on my blog.*

**Special shoutout to Emily West for all the work she put into getting this article published and setting up the fundraiser! Thanks Em!**

A woman fighting cancer is staying with her family in Beaver Dam while waiting for the opportunity to get a bone marrow and stem cell transplant.

Megan (Farrell) Kleinman said since she began having health issues, she has been to more than 25 hospitals and cancer centers, has had more than 60 surgeries or procedures and been treated by more than 100 doctors.

Born and raised in Beaver Dam, the daughter of Kevin and Sandy Farrell and the sister of Danielle, Kleinman attended Washington Elementary School, Beaver Dam Middle School and graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 2003. She attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich., for two years before transferring to Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Ill., where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and communications.

Kleinman said her health concerns began while still a senior in high school when she had her gallbladder removed in March 2003. In January 2004, she received a diagnosis of endometriosis. It is a condition where the tissue that forms the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterine cavity, which causes pelvic pain and menstrual irregularities. In March 2004, she had her appendix removed.

After college, Kleinman said her health problems continued – with worsening symptoms but no answers from doctors.

“I was getting shuttled from one doctor to the next,” Kleinman wrote. “By 2008 I had no clear diagnosis and I had a couple deaths in my family that were unexpected. I was at a breaking point. I knew I needed a change, so I decided in one day I was going to move across the country.”

A week later, she packed her car and moved to Arizona, after securing a transfer from her job in retail.

“I really didn’t know anyone in Arizona,” Kleinman wrote. “I had one friend out there from high school. I just felt numb in the beginning. I was just going through the motions but not really living. That all changed when I landed a dream job. I was hired at a nanny agency to help place nannies with families. I loved it because I was able to work with both the nannies and the families. I got to have relationships with both groups. I also revamped the website and was putting my degree to use. I was on track to becoming a partner in the company. I had a wonderful relationship with the owner of the company. We became fast friends.”

Her friend introduced Kleinman to the man who would become her husband.

Things were looking up, but she was still experiencing health issues.

“I tried my best to ignore them. I hoped they would resolve themselves,” Kleinman wrote. “I was ready to be happy and prosperous again. My job was heading in a fantastic direction and I had met an amazing guy. I thought my luck was changing.”

Not even one year after landing her perfect job, and only two months into dating Jeff, whom she calls the man of her dreams, Kleinman was diagnosed with cervical cancer in April 2009.

Doctors changed the diagnosis to endometrial cancer. Kleinman went through multiple rounds of chemo and radiation and underwent a full hysterectomy in May 2010, followed by more radiation.

The cancer continued to spread, complicated by infections, problems with scar tissue and anemia.

“I have soft tissue sarcoma, parathyroid lesions and aplastic anemia,” Kleinman wrote.

Kleinman said her parents, sister and brother-in-law have gone above and beyond to help her financially and emotionally.

“I am extremely lucky to have an incredibly supportive family, and that the amazing guy I was dating when I got diagnosed stuck around,” Kleinman wrote. “I was sure he would walk away. I practically told him to, but he never left my side. In fact, he married me.”

The couple will celebrate their sixth anniversary in September.

“He works tirelessly just so we can pay our bills. My parents have taken on second jobs when they should be retiring so they can help with my medical bills,” Kleinman wrote. “My sister has organized a few fundraisers over the years to help pay for medical bills and procedures/surgeries I’ve needed. We are still buried in bills.”

Her friend, Emily West, who also graduated from BDHS, organized a pop-up shop as a Chloe + Isabel merchandiser and is donating 100 percent of her commission to help Megan.

“It’s people like Emily that give you the hope to keep fighting,” Kleinman wrote. “Emily and I have know each other since we’ve been around 12 years old. No matter how close, or far apart we have lived, we have always stayed in touch. She is a beautiful person both inside and out.”

Kleinman has been in Wisconsin, staying with her parents in Beaver Dam since a few days before Christmas.

“My health has put me in a position in which it is dangerous for me to be home alone. I often faint due to blood loss,” Kleinman wrote. “I have so much swelling due to the lesions in my throat I have a lot of trouble swallowing. I choke on the medications I need to take daily. Since I’ve been home, my dad has had perform the Heimlich maneuver four times.”

She will return to her home in New York with her husband soon. Kleinman has been waiting two years for a bone marrow transplant. She said her donor match is the doctor who first diagnosed her in Arizona.

“He is retired now and lives in Colorado, but we have maintained a friendship over the years. He’s a great man. I don’t have any grandparents left living, so he is not only a former doctor, and a friend,” Kleinman wrote. “He’s like family to me.”

Kleinman said they need to pay down some of their current bills before going forward with the transplant, because her insurance will only cover half the cost. She worries, because if her body rejects the transplant, the insurance will cover none of the transplant costs.

Kleinman maintains a blog and offers advice to others there.

“Don’t let life pass you by. Don’t assume you’ll have one more day. Stop pushing back all of the things you’ve been waiting to do. Embrace life while you still can. I know that I regret not doing more while I was in better health,” Kleinman wrote.

West opens pop-up shop in March

Emily West, who graduated from BDHS with Megan in 2003, is helping raise funds for Megan through an online boutique.

After graduating from BDHS, Emily graduated from Marian College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in accounting, economics and finance. She went to work in Milwaukee as a mutual fund accountant, but joined the Navy after the market crashed in 2009.  She served in the Navy until last August, and then moved to her husband’s hometown of Hailey, Idaho.

“I decided to become a merchandiser for Chloe and Isabel in February because I wanted to have a way to financially contribute to those in need,” West wrote.

West typically donates 50 percent of her commissions, but is donating 100 percent in March to help Megan with her medical expenses.

“Megan has been a true source of inspiration for me - her strength, courage, tenacity, and continued positivity in the face of her extremely unfortunate circumstances,” West wrote. 

West said March is customer appreciation month, so customers who spend $200 will receive a $50 credit for future purchases.

To shop this month and help Megan, visit https://www.chloeandisabel.com/boutique/emilywest.

---

Dear Meg

Dear Meg,

Your 31st birthday is steadily approaching and your future remains to be a series of uncertainties.  The best way to explain it, and/or label it a "possible future of undeniable chaos".  There are no plans for the future.  Your future is purely dictated by your health.  You have had to forfeit all control to your cancer.  It's offical, the white flag has been flown.  You have surrendered.  You have given every ounce of yourself to dreadful disease.  You have bled, cried, suffered, pleaded, prayed, and turned to every source of comfort possible.  None seem to lead to resolution.  They only lead to anger, frustration, anxiety, depression, desperation, and difficulties for family and friends.  The family and friends whom haven't written me off years ago.  Living with a serious illness causoes a natural rift between those closets to you, as well as, acquaintances, and strangers alike.

When a milestone, such as a birthday, rolls around.  It is inevitable that you will reevaluate the past year.  Remember all of the hopes and dreams you had?  All the big plans you had for your for that year/for the future. Then you remember you spent most of the last year in a hospital bed, or trapped inside your house.  Going out is to dangerous for my extremely immunity.  There isn't a lot to be done from a hospital bed, or laid up on the couch at home.  Even the opportunity to have children has been taken away from me.  What's left for me?  More pain and suffering?  What is worth celebrating anymore?  I am always ready to celebrate other people's accomplishments.  They are worthy of celebration.  Regrettably my minor achievements are few and far between, not to mention, pretty worthless far from reputable.

This whole note to myself experiment is turning out to be a major bore and quite the downer.  I would be lying if I said I was happy all the time. I would be lying if I didn't say that I cry myself to sleep every night(that is if I get any sleep). I again would be lying if I said that I'm going to beat this cancer. I know longer know. It gets more painful, difficult, tiresome physically and completely financial draining. It's not just me. It affect my husband by putting strain on out relationship, it deeply affects my parents, sister, brother-in-law financial, it also have ending many of my friendships.

Worst of all I feel like I've lost the person I used to be. I miss the Meg that was lively, active, spontaneous, a little bit wild. How rowdy can you get when you're constantly hooked up to medical machines and IV's. But, I digress. I may not have the strength, or energy to function as a normal 30 year old girl, but I have had the chance to observe many family dynamics throughout during my years being a patient and volunteer at various hospitals. I see some patients that have a revolving door of visitors, but they never stay long. Most of the time they are just dropping something off and don't bother to take 10 minutes out of their day catch up with their loved one. I also see patients who only get visitors once a week, but they stay for hours to really catch up with their friend or family member. I try to fill in the "lonely times" when the children's parents have to work, when the sons and daughters have to work when the elderly are alone. I become a floater. I love bringing smiles to just migh need a smile, I enjoy bringing in puzzles for the elderly and other activities for the kids.

I feel so selfish this year being so away from my Upstate family. I happy to be putting my traditional treatments on hold for a little bit to focus on a faster growing and a bit more serious situation.

How do we know who to trust anymore. I get 20 different opinions from 20 different doctors. We have to be the masters of our own bodies and speak out about I really going on inside of you. Doctors are very intimidating, but by going I prepare it was allow both of you to put together a treatment plan.

There aren't any miricles happying in hospitals these days, but miracles do still happen.

Choices

The journey of life sometimes steers us down unfamiliar paths.  Life has an interesting way of pointing us, and often guiding us in directions we were never expecting to travel.  Some good and some bad, depending how we react to the situations we've stubble upon.  While walking along these paths we become more and more courageous with each step we take, be it big or small.  As our courage grows we gain the strength to continue moving forward and face our fears.  With each new stride we open ourselves up to an abundance of a discoveries and new beginnings.  No matter how difficult and terrifying they may be, we must keep traveling along the "road of life".  The future has endless experiences to offer, and many more exciting life events to enjoy.

Don't let life pass you by. Don't assume you'll have one more day. Stop pushing back all of the things you've been waiting to do. Embrace life while you still can. I know that I regret not doing more while I was in better health. I never would have thought that at 30 years old I would feel the bodily restrictions of most 80+ year olds. 

I am not one to tell people what to do, or impart unwanted advice, but I would like to share a bit of what I have learned in my 30 years. I am probably going to sound like a teacher, a preacher, a parent, etc, and for that I am sorry. I have learned more over the past seven years than the prior 23. Society will be filled with temptation, ignorance, arrogance, and cynicism. They will always be there and cannot be ignored. It is the choices we make. The decisions we choose in which to deal with our burdens and obstacles that express our true character. 

The road to our future is long, winding, and filled with many surprises. There is no escaping the inevitable, but we all have the prerogative to live our lives in the manner in which we see fit. We all write our own stories.  I can no longer always be angry and depressed by the "cards I've been dealt". I can only live my life one day at a time. I will always be willing to listen to thoughts and suggestions about my well-being, but sometimes the conclusion will ultimately come to a stalemate. In that situation we will have to agree to disagree. There is no use in fighting the issue. A life without choices is a life not worth living. Always follow what "feels" right to you. When you trust your heart, there is no reasoning for regret.

If I Needed You

If I needed you

Would you come to me

Would you come to me

For to ease my pain

If you needed me

I would come to you 

I would swim the seas

For to ease your pain

For the past four or five years I have been told that before/after I faint and when I'm in excruciating pain I close my eyes and replay that song over and over.  I have even asked whomever I'm with me to sing with me. None of my nurses, doctors, or family members have ever been able to tell me the name of the song, or sing along with me.  The medical professionals always said that I sing it with a weak voice and very softly.  Each time I sing the song I also have a strong emotional response.  The tears I cry in that moment are not only from the pain, and all the constant internal struggles that I endure every day of my life.  I have continued to sing that song during troubled times and I often hum it to "my" kids at the children's hospital when I tuck them into their beds for the night.  This song has been a source of calming in my life.  A song I don't recall ever hearing and that those I play it around me genuinely never recognize it at all. That is until now.

I recently recieved an email from a nurse/friend I saw more often than not when I lived in Arizona.  She and I became fast friends.  We lost touch, because we don't have many chances to see each other.  She still lives in Phoneix and I live in New York.  It's challenging to make cross country trips.  Fortunately, we text, talk and email as much as we can.  Recently I came across a particular exciting email was a complete surprising to me. The subject line read:"If Ever You Need Me".  In the email she explains how she has never given up on me, or of successfully finding the name of the song and the right version.  Some of you may think this is a small, menial, and inferior task for my nurse in Arizona.  I know not knowing that song has been driver her crazy too.. This song has been an enigma and such a nuisance, to both of us, over the years.  

We all must find our best, most peaceful, and successful ways of cope.  No matter what decision you make in life you will always need to remember, when you need someone, they will come to you, for to ease your pain. The best part of this song also recites:

If you needed me, I would come to you

I would swim the seas, For to ease your pain.  Allow those around you from the start. It's extremely challenging and unbelievabley terrifying. Accept the help you need. Spoken from a true hard-ass.

Be the best you! I know that is what gets me through my darkest hours. Happiness is a privilege, hold tight to those kite strings. One, or many can easily fly away. 

Bits and Bobs

Life sucks!  Sometimes it's as simple as that.  There is no way around it.  It's that moment when you just have to throw your hands in the air and surrender to the circumstances in order to start over with a clean slate.  We all go through peaks and valleys as we navigate our individual journey along the many "paths" presented to us each day.  Luckily there are many different "roads" to follow.  If the first choice doesn't turn out as we hoped, or expected, we can go back to start and choose another "path".  It's frustrating, aggravating, discouraging, sad and often very lonely when your life is controlled by a horrible disease that is slowly killing you.  Forgive me for such a cynical and disgruntled start to this blog post.  Not only am I overwhelmed by my own health situation, my family has started the new year with many stressful, challenging, and traumatic situations.  It is only mid January.  I'm terrified to see what the rest of the year has yet to bombard us with.

Every step I take, every decision I make, and all plans I make are alway tentatively made.  I can never RSVP 100% yes to events, dinners, parties, or even meeting up with a friend at the dog park for a little while.  Most of (ok, pretty much all of the time) I have to decline invitations to any type of occasions, so I don't have to call at the last minute to cancel the arrangement we mutual agreed upon.  I hate disappointing my friends and family.  My only option is to distance myself from everyone I love because I cannot continue this "song and dance" forever.  It's heartbreaking for me.  I have reached a point in my cancer battle that some days I can't even get out of bed.  That feeling is undeniably petrifying.  I look and feel like a big 'ole hot mess most every day.  I understand that some/most of my friendships have dissolved.  Why would anyone want to waste time dealing with my illness(the physical side effects are brutal), and/or be bored out of their mind because I'm on bed rest.  Every one is better off if I just fade away while every one else is out living it up and enjoying life.

Cancer has not only taken away my social life, but the professional and philanthropist areas of my life as well.  I continue to have this internal struggle with feeling like a worthless bum.  I don't contribute anything to my family, my friends, the U.S., the world, even the universe.  I do much more damage than good.  Just call me "hurricane Meg", "tornado Meg" for the Midwestern states and "shake-a-shaka boom-boom Meg" out on the west cost.  I had to have at least one fun nickname to describe my destructive forcefield.

As I look back, the legitimately pensive part of my life is that I have been a "professional patient" for over half my life.  Almost seven of those years have been with a confirmed cancer diagnosis.  It's outrageous and depressing to think about my life strictly by the numbers.  I suppose it's fitting though.  Most days I feel more like a science project, or just a number in the line-up of other patients.  It's easy to forget underneath all of my health concerns is a person.  Even though I am 30 years old, and I have been to more doctors and hospitals than anyone would ever care to see.  Underneath it all I am still a scared little girl.

The most alarming, uncomfortable and extremely embarrassing component to being a "professional patient" is that I don't think there is a single area inside, or on the surface of my body that hasn't been seen/examined by physicians, nurses, techs, pretty much the entire medical staff.  All my "bits" and "bobs" have been poked, prodded, pinched, squeezed and squished at one point or another.  My insides have been scoped, scraped, lasered, explored, and cut.  Every inch of my body has been scanned, x-rayed, and put through series-upon-series of multiple other tests and treatments.  There isn't an area of my body that hasn't been seen, examined and re-examined.  All discretion has been "thrown out the window" by now.

There is no longer and mystery, privacy, or boundaries with my doctors, or the rest of the healthcare staff.  Honestly... What is left to see?....oh, that's right, nothing!  All my healthcare professionals have seen all my "goodies", more than I care to admit.  The simple thought of what doctors and nurses see on a daily basis make me think of the Dr. Suess book "Oh, the places you'll go".  It's more like "Ew, the places you have to go".  Those poor doctors.  I can barely look at myself from shoulders up in the mirror, muchless look at my unmentionables.  Sometime I wonder what doctors are really thinking about when they see their patients with all their "bits" and "bobs" hanging out.  It's utterly embarrassing as a patients at the doctor's office, but what do doctors think about when you have a chance meeting outside of the office setting?  Are they thinking..."Yep, I just checked her whoo-ha for "the herp" yesterday.  Lucky for that guy she's hanging all over the test came back negative.  By the looks of her "extracurricular" activities, I'll be doing another STD check very soon".  Maybe they are recounting about a few days ago when they had to cram a tube up dear old Mrs. Burton's bum when they bump into her at the grocery store, and how difficult it's going to be sharing the results with her at the follow-up appointment tomorrow.  I'm sure most physicians try to remove themselves from doctor-mode when they are outside of the office, but it has to be impossible to completely detach from what they encounter because of their field of profession.  I don't know from personal experience, but plastic surgeons must have the best stories!  I can only imagine the unrealistic requests and the uttermost ridiculous expectations certain people have that result in some pretty hilarious stories!

It's all these "bits" and "bobs" that make up who we are and how we function.  It's important to take care of them no matter how agonizing and awkward it is to seek medical attention.  Doctors are available to us as a reliable resource to help every one feel their best and maintain our optimal health.  They have all seen numerous people's "bits", "bobs", "whoo-ha's" and "booties".  I let fear and insecurities prevent myself from far too many things I've wanted to do, and things I needed to do in my life.  Never limit yourself when a simple phone call can help prevent a future without choices and provide a future filled with endless potential.