did you know that our first lady has a personal connection to MS? i rarely read the MS marketing and educational materials that come my way (i know, i know- it's a mental thing/emotional aversion). however, mom handed me an article from the momentum spring 2009 issue, and to my surprise, michelle obama's classy face jumped off the page:
"Michelle obama spoke movingly about her father in her speech at the Democratic National Convention last year:
'My dad was our rock. And although he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his early thirties, he was our provider... But as he got sicker, it got harder for him to walk. Took him longer to get dressed in the morning. But if he was in pain, he never let on. He never stopped smiling and laughing, even while struggling to button his shirt.'
To view the entire speech, go to youtube and type in "Michelle Obama DNC" in the search field."
the blurb reminded me of a conversation i had with jana at cherry alley on friday. her husband remarked that she turns into a completely different person when she's in public and dealing with her illness. she may be nearly comatose on the couch but when someone walks in the house, she's bright and perky, smiling and laughing. he's right- actually, he has hit our confliction dead on. i know this because i do the same thing, and i cannot stop it from happening, regardless of how aware i may be of the transformation.
there could be many reasons for this "public face", but i believe that the most relevant one is that it is a personal battle. i don't want anyone to see me sick, to see me in pain, to see me curled up in a ball with tears seeping out the corners of my eyes. while some days it may be the reality, i prefer to deal with it myself. how can i put this in terms that you will understand?
let's say that you have the flu, or a viscious cold. you know the type- your head is so congested that you can barely think, let alone breath. your voice sounds like a strained instrument stuck on the wrong chord. you're registering a fever of 101 and running to the bathroom to vomit every few minutes. ok, this may be extreme but i have a point, i promise. do you want to be surrounded by people? most likely it's the last thing you'd prefer. in fact, you probably have wrapped yourself up in a ratty old blanket and holed yourself up in a bedroom with the TV on "the view" while you down tylenol cold/flu formula. you're just going to put in your time with this bout of sickness and then face the world again. am i right?
the symptoms and challenges may be different but you and i share the same feelings. there's a reason you don't see myself or jana when we're sick, and it's because we don't want you to. we're reminded of our illness every second of every hour of every day- we don't need you to be reminded of it as well. sometimes i feel like i have two lives, and there is a constant struggle between the two for a proper balance. so reading this comment from michelle obama about her father really hit home, and even though it was brief in length it was actually quite comforting. maybe i just needed a reminder that i'm not the only one putting on a public face.
2.22.2009
2.11.2009
fully favorable
text message from joel: "congratulations on your disability. LOL, i just re-read what i wrote."
actually, joel, that's the perfect quote for the occasion! on friday, jan 30th, i had my pre-hearing meeting with my SSD lawyer. (flashback: i was originally denied SSD because the Administration said i was "too young to have MS", and had "too much education". discrimination anyone?!) the goal was to prepare me for all the questions that would be asked and to get me thinking about the answers i would give, etc. long story short- it was hell. a total nightmare. so many of these things i have put out of my head- this is my reality, this is my life, there is nothing i can do about it, so i have to keep moving on. but the meeting required me to drag out every single detail of my physical ailments and challenges- when i laid it out like that, my life sounded miserable and pathetic.
the icing on the cake was when the lawyer told me that the vocational "expert" would be testifying- he/she would go over the jobs that the Administration said i was able to perform. while they admit i cannot work in my trained field (advertising), they said that i could work in sedentary positions such as video-security surveillance (as in, at a mall), egg inspector, or small parts assembly in a factory line. 1) i was offended, and had every right to be, and 2) are they idiots?! did they even read the case file? with my optic neuritis and essential tremors, none of those jobs would even be possible!! it reduced me to tears and actually caused me to vomit (TMI? perhaps, but since when has that stopped me.)
after an hour, i was emotionally depleted and physically exhausted, so i excused myself while mom/dad continued the conversation with the lawyer for an additional hour. we had determined that mom should testify, since she is my main caregiver, she would have the most influence. it was hard to focus on anything other than the hearing for the rest of the weekend. not only that, but the hearing was pushed back 2 additional weeks, which screwed up my support system of lori being in attendance. (i was already mentally prepared to get rejected yet again, and knew she could be a positive distraction.) monday morning brought some rough times, and i was checking my email in a daze when this one came in:
from Karen Quinn
to M Morgensen <mmm3433@gmail.com>
date Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 10:41 AM
subject RE: hearing
Dear Meggie,
I have good news for you. On Friday while I was out seeing you, Judge Gehring’s chamber’s called to respond to my request for a continuance. It seems the Judge looked at your file and has decided to award you the benefits “on the record” . What this means is that we do not have to go to a Hearing and you have won your Social Security case. I had hoped he would do this but since we had not heard from him I did not think it was going to happen.
Anyway, what will happen next is you and I will receive a written decision in the mail in about 3 weeks. Once the decision is completed, your file will be processed in Baltimore for payment. You can expect to get a call from Social Security to ask some questions about your banking information for direct deposit.
Please give me a call if you have any questions. Karen M. Quinn
i began screaming, with tears running down my face. immediately i forwarded the email to my father, aunt mary and uncle bill- and shouted for mom to come quickly. (she had to read it more than once before she believed it wasn't spam!) it's almost ironic that in those 2 1/2 years of anxiety, waiting, rejection, and discrimination, all it took was one rational judge who took the time to actually read through my case file. that's all! it could have happened months ago- years ago even.
actually, joel, that's the perfect quote for the occasion! on friday, jan 30th, i had my pre-hearing meeting with my SSD lawyer. (flashback: i was originally denied SSD because the Administration said i was "too young to have MS", and had "too much education". discrimination anyone?!) the goal was to prepare me for all the questions that would be asked and to get me thinking about the answers i would give, etc. long story short- it was hell. a total nightmare. so many of these things i have put out of my head- this is my reality, this is my life, there is nothing i can do about it, so i have to keep moving on. but the meeting required me to drag out every single detail of my physical ailments and challenges- when i laid it out like that, my life sounded miserable and pathetic.
the icing on the cake was when the lawyer told me that the vocational "expert" would be testifying- he/she would go over the jobs that the Administration said i was able to perform. while they admit i cannot work in my trained field (advertising), they said that i could work in sedentary positions such as video-security surveillance (as in, at a mall), egg inspector, or small parts assembly in a factory line. 1) i was offended, and had every right to be, and 2) are they idiots?! did they even read the case file? with my optic neuritis and essential tremors, none of those jobs would even be possible!! it reduced me to tears and actually caused me to vomit (TMI? perhaps, but since when has that stopped me.)
after an hour, i was emotionally depleted and physically exhausted, so i excused myself while mom/dad continued the conversation with the lawyer for an additional hour. we had determined that mom should testify, since she is my main caregiver, she would have the most influence. it was hard to focus on anything other than the hearing for the rest of the weekend. not only that, but the hearing was pushed back 2 additional weeks, which screwed up my support system of lori being in attendance. (i was already mentally prepared to get rejected yet again, and knew she could be a positive distraction.) monday morning brought some rough times, and i was checking my email in a daze when this one came in:
from Karen Quinn
to M Morgensen <mmm3433@gmail.com>
date Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 10:41 AM
subject RE: hearing
Dear Meggie,
I have good news for you. On Friday while I was out seeing you, Judge Gehring’s chamber’s called to respond to my request for a continuance. It seems the Judge looked at your file and has decided to award you the benefits “on the record” . What this means is that we do not have to go to a Hearing and you have won your Social Security case. I had hoped he would do this but since we had not heard from him I did not think it was going to happen.
Anyway, what will happen next is you and I will receive a written decision in the mail in about 3 weeks. Once the decision is completed, your file will be processed in Baltimore for payment. You can expect to get a call from Social Security to ask some questions about your banking information for direct deposit.
Please give me a call if you have any questions. Karen M. Quinn
i began screaming, with tears running down my face. immediately i forwarded the email to my father, aunt mary and uncle bill- and shouted for mom to come quickly. (she had to read it more than once before she believed it wasn't spam!) it's almost ironic that in those 2 1/2 years of anxiety, waiting, rejection, and discrimination, all it took was one rational judge who took the time to actually read through my case file. that's all! it could have happened months ago- years ago even.
flowers from aunt mary & uncle bill: "no hearing! all done!"
i've never been so happy to be deemed "disabled"! but it was the final piece of support i had been lacking, that was going to be so key to moving on with my life. i've been struggling with the emotional and mental implications of accepting i am drawing social security disability. you are most likely thinking "what in the hell is wrong with her? of course she deserves/needs it. what's shameful about that?". but the thing is, i always saw myself as big shot career girl- the do-it-all kind of woman who moves up quickly (and famously) in the industry, has an enviable marriage to a handsome, intelligent man, and raises beautiful genius babies.
the focus, dedication, and ambition i had for so long in my career had slowly become non-applicable, and this recent designation seemed to seal my fate. what happens now? am i deemed to being worth nothing- to amount to nothing, attain nothing, and in essence, become nothing? rationally i realize that is not the case- it couldn't be farther from the truth. and of course, i truly believe that i am not the type to become complacent. if my situation changes, which God willing it may, then i would give anything to return to work. perhaps not in a deadline/stress-driven environment such as advertising, but something that will still give me the reward and satisfaction that my previous dreams seemed to hold.
but for now, i am trying to take those attributes and focus them on keeping myself healthy- on being able to function and have a life that can still contribute to the world around me, in whatever way i am able. i'm not going to lose this fear of facing public judgement overnight. there are always going to be those outsiders that do not understand. if you saw me on the street you may not realize anything was amiss (unless i happened to trip over an imaginary tree branch and head planted into the pavement.) but i can't live my life to please others or to be accepted by others.
it's funny- as we grow older we keep relearning the lessons we were taught as children, just in different environments.
9.09.2008
who here has ridden greyhound recently?
this was a question posed to my anthropology: modern africa class as our professor tried to compare one of his many experiences in an african taxicab. (he's a hard core, stereotypical anthropologist, so i take his word for it- think unkempt hair, flip flops, torn flannel shirts...) it was a pretty basic question, esp. one that most people could relate to. i mean, considering we are a sample of the average population, even further as college students who are prone to using public transportation as much as possible out of financial necessity. unfortunately, he chose the wrong target audience (from my tenure in the advertising/marketing world, i immediately recognized this as SUDDEN DEATH!), as i was the ONLY person in a class of 30+ to raise their hand.
when a single year's tuition could cover the lease on my old town alexandria apartment for almost 44 MONTHS, i'm willing to bet these kids don't even know where their local greyhound station is, let alone ridden one of their buses. (FYI- 1 year's tuition at BU is $38,134- data from the 2007/2008 academic year per reported in Forbes) good thing i'm auditing his class so our enlightened professor wouldn't be the only one forced to mingle with the masses.
now, i'm clearly not an expert on african taxicabs, but i do consider myself an expert (by default, naturally) on bus transportation, especially since this past weekend's trip to OBX would be at least the 10th time i've been a passenger. (one of their more well-dressed passengers, i will proudly point out.) in fact, i should lobby the company to issue a customer loyalty program- i could be on my way to a california road trip right now. unfortunately finding out which company to target would require a government inquiry by the dept. of transportation- is always a "surprise" to learn which bus company will be taking you to your next destination- susquehanna trailways, capitol trailways, peter pan, greyhound... the name on your ticket means absolutely nothing, trust me.)
let me offer a few pointers to those of you who might be greyhound virgins. (please note: from here on out, all bus companies will be referred to as greyhound since apparently they can double as any other company if need be. if you ever find out the logic behind this, please let me know.)
you must have a destination ticket on any luggage being stowed underneath the bus. this is amusing for more than one reason. first of all, customer service is a foreign language on these ventures- you will be the one stowing your suitcase at the beginning of your trip, and struggling in vain, praying it hasn't been stolen, as you retrieve it at the end of your trip. so why again do you have to have a destination ticket if it NEVER LEAVES YOUR HANDS?! secondly, if you purchase your ticket on the bus, or at a satellite location (i.e.- the market deli on market st. in lewisburg, where i purchase all my bus tickets), they only give you carbon copies of your ticket. if you present these at your bus transfers, you will be told to go into the bus station and get a baggage slip at the ticket counter. the women at the ticket counter will ignore you for at least 8 minutes while they finish eating their sticky buns or discuss why their boss can't tell them they've taken too many smoke breaks, before telling you that they cannot issue baggage slips for tickets purchased at other locations. during this time you will be praying to god (and anyone else that will listen) that the bus driver hasn't forgotten he sent you inside before beeping his horn 2 times and exiting the parking lot- complete with your "unofficial" baggage.
you may not bring cell phones on certain buses, or your ringer must be turned off on certain buses, or you may not talk on your cell phone on certain buses. usually there is no visible signage officially posting this policy, however i once saw a misspelled flyer posted in script on the back of a bus ticket taped behind the driver's seat. so perhaps they are in transition. however, this does not mean your bus driver's cell phone is banned. if anything, he is encouraged to use his phone- which he does quite frequently, especially to other drivers out on the road. they discuss everything from the weather, the traffic, swapping shifts, or most recently, to unveil that they have joined a rock band and are playing gigs a couple hours away. (i can only imagine the joints where this dude played- he was at least 70 and clearly didn't believe in self maintenance. think jerry garcia driving a bus.) i'm pretty sure that using ear pieces are becoming law all across the country, with stiff fines if you are caught on your phone without one- not to mention when you are driving a TWO TON BUS with PAID PASSENGERS ON BOARD. but apparently greyhound hasn't gotten the message. (and trust me, these guys never earned standout points for multi tasking.)
the first row of seats is reserved for those riders with disabilities, unless the bus drivers personal belongings are occupying said space. if this is the case, tough luck. also, if you are a passenger with disabilities, you are required to give the bus company 48 hours notice. why, i am not completely sure. if you need assistance, you have better luck asking the semi sober guy behind you for help with your bags. even when i was using a cane (HELLO! I EVEN HAVE PROPS- I AM TOTALLY LEGIT!- the driver stood outside the door deadpan, tearing tickets stone faced, while i struggled to mount the stairs.)
you do not need a valid ID (or any ID), a 2 hour advance arrival prior to your departure, or worry about your nail file passing through the unsmiling security stations, to board your intended bus. (you should however, ask at least 3 people their destination to confirm you are on the right bus- the drivers will not announce "welcome to bus 427 bound for harrisburg, pa!" in a falsely cheery voice before departure. i think the microphone is there for effect.) all you need to do is arrive 5-10 minutes before departure (and i do mean departure time- there is no such thing as "boarding time" on buses) to secure your place in the ridiculously configured, nowhere near straight line by the door. and feel free to bring anything from a loaded firearm, various knives, body bags, or liquids over 4 ounces. (or, if you're me, your latest stash of gluten free overpriced items from whole foods.)
to avoid contact with any degenerates or sketchy chatty people, wear your headphones at all times, keep an open book or magazine on your lap, and make sure your carry on is placed on the empty seat beside you. make sure a friend knows that you are embarking on a bus journey, and approximately what time you are scheduled to arrive at your destination- preferably talk to this friend as you board the bus and the moment you near your exit. doing so in earshot of any degenerates or sketchy chatty people will ensure they will not repeatedly ask you the time, if you are carrying any spare batteries or more importantly, if you are going to visit your boyfriend, during the duration of your trip. the answer to which of course is no, no, and yes- always. (as far as being on time, i have only had 1 incident when my bus was late or had any major malfunction, which is WAY more than i can say for any of the major airlines i have flown with over the past few years.)
i look forward to the day when i can compare african taxicabs to greyhound- until then, i'll be wishing i was flagging a cab in tanzania every time i prepare for my next trip to DC.
when a single year's tuition could cover the lease on my old town alexandria apartment for almost 44 MONTHS, i'm willing to bet these kids don't even know where their local greyhound station is, let alone ridden one of their buses. (FYI- 1 year's tuition at BU is $38,134- data from the 2007/2008 academic year per reported in Forbes) good thing i'm auditing his class so our enlightened professor wouldn't be the only one forced to mingle with the masses.
now, i'm clearly not an expert on african taxicabs, but i do consider myself an expert (by default, naturally) on bus transportation, especially since this past weekend's trip to OBX would be at least the 10th time i've been a passenger. (one of their more well-dressed passengers, i will proudly point out.) in fact, i should lobby the company to issue a customer loyalty program- i could be on my way to a california road trip right now. unfortunately finding out which company to target would require a government inquiry by the dept. of transportation- is always a "surprise" to learn which bus company will be taking you to your next destination- susquehanna trailways, capitol trailways, peter pan, greyhound... the name on your ticket means absolutely nothing, trust me.)
let me offer a few pointers to those of you who might be greyhound virgins. (please note: from here on out, all bus companies will be referred to as greyhound since apparently they can double as any other company if need be. if you ever find out the logic behind this, please let me know.)
you must have a destination ticket on any luggage being stowed underneath the bus. this is amusing for more than one reason. first of all, customer service is a foreign language on these ventures- you will be the one stowing your suitcase at the beginning of your trip, and struggling in vain, praying it hasn't been stolen, as you retrieve it at the end of your trip. so why again do you have to have a destination ticket if it NEVER LEAVES YOUR HANDS?! secondly, if you purchase your ticket on the bus, or at a satellite location (i.e.- the market deli on market st. in lewisburg, where i purchase all my bus tickets), they only give you carbon copies of your ticket. if you present these at your bus transfers, you will be told to go into the bus station and get a baggage slip at the ticket counter. the women at the ticket counter will ignore you for at least 8 minutes while they finish eating their sticky buns or discuss why their boss can't tell them they've taken too many smoke breaks, before telling you that they cannot issue baggage slips for tickets purchased at other locations. during this time you will be praying to god (and anyone else that will listen) that the bus driver hasn't forgotten he sent you inside before beeping his horn 2 times and exiting the parking lot- complete with your "unofficial" baggage.
you may not bring cell phones on certain buses, or your ringer must be turned off on certain buses, or you may not talk on your cell phone on certain buses. usually there is no visible signage officially posting this policy, however i once saw a misspelled flyer posted in script on the back of a bus ticket taped behind the driver's seat. so perhaps they are in transition. however, this does not mean your bus driver's cell phone is banned. if anything, he is encouraged to use his phone- which he does quite frequently, especially to other drivers out on the road. they discuss everything from the weather, the traffic, swapping shifts, or most recently, to unveil that they have joined a rock band and are playing gigs a couple hours away. (i can only imagine the joints where this dude played- he was at least 70 and clearly didn't believe in self maintenance. think jerry garcia driving a bus.) i'm pretty sure that using ear pieces are becoming law all across the country, with stiff fines if you are caught on your phone without one- not to mention when you are driving a TWO TON BUS with PAID PASSENGERS ON BOARD. but apparently greyhound hasn't gotten the message. (and trust me, these guys never earned standout points for multi tasking.)
the first row of seats is reserved for those riders with disabilities, unless the bus drivers personal belongings are occupying said space. if this is the case, tough luck. also, if you are a passenger with disabilities, you are required to give the bus company 48 hours notice. why, i am not completely sure. if you need assistance, you have better luck asking the semi sober guy behind you for help with your bags. even when i was using a cane (HELLO! I EVEN HAVE PROPS- I AM TOTALLY LEGIT!- the driver stood outside the door deadpan, tearing tickets stone faced, while i struggled to mount the stairs.)
you do not need a valid ID (or any ID), a 2 hour advance arrival prior to your departure, or worry about your nail file passing through the unsmiling security stations, to board your intended bus. (you should however, ask at least 3 people their destination to confirm you are on the right bus- the drivers will not announce "welcome to bus 427 bound for harrisburg, pa!" in a falsely cheery voice before departure. i think the microphone is there for effect.) all you need to do is arrive 5-10 minutes before departure (and i do mean departure time- there is no such thing as "boarding time" on buses) to secure your place in the ridiculously configured, nowhere near straight line by the door. and feel free to bring anything from a loaded firearm, various knives, body bags, or liquids over 4 ounces. (or, if you're me, your latest stash of gluten free overpriced items from whole foods.)
to avoid contact with any degenerates or sketchy chatty people, wear your headphones at all times, keep an open book or magazine on your lap, and make sure your carry on is placed on the empty seat beside you. make sure a friend knows that you are embarking on a bus journey, and approximately what time you are scheduled to arrive at your destination- preferably talk to this friend as you board the bus and the moment you near your exit. doing so in earshot of any degenerates or sketchy chatty people will ensure they will not repeatedly ask you the time, if you are carrying any spare batteries or more importantly, if you are going to visit your boyfriend, during the duration of your trip. the answer to which of course is no, no, and yes- always. (as far as being on time, i have only had 1 incident when my bus was late or had any major malfunction, which is WAY more than i can say for any of the major airlines i have flown with over the past few years.)
i look forward to the day when i can compare african taxicabs to greyhound- until then, i'll be wishing i was flagging a cab in tanzania every time i prepare for my next trip to DC.
remember, you can view these postings directly on kitkat chat's blog
http://meggerv2.blogspot.com/
http://meggerv2.blogspot.com/
8.24.2008
rejection rocks
August 4, 2008
Dear Dr. INT1,
Thank you for your interest in the Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We appreciate the opportunity to review the medical history of Meg Morgensen. However, after careful consideration, it was decided by the medical review board that we would not be able to invite your patient to participate in our program. However, we did arrange to have your patient evaluated at the NIH 7/10/08 by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to consult with the NIH on your patient. We appreciate your commitment to providing the best possible care for your patients in ways that help advance medical knowledge and discovery.
Sincerely,
Director, Undiagnosed Diseases Program
it's official- i have been rejected by NIH. while i am disappointed, part of me isn't all that surprised. i had long ago fallen into this "no mans land" of a crevice- one that is wedged between a pointy jagged rock and an indestructible piece of concrete wall- i have diagnosed MS with symptoms that exceed the "typical" profile of manifestations (like that medical lingo? impressive, i know) and diagnosed Fibromyalgia that is more extreme than "typical" cases. "typical" is a word i have become quite familiar with and offered up on a silver, unattainable platter many times over the years- its usage usually comes in a form such as this: "the thing is, isn't something we typically see in MS patients." (when i am feeling particularly bitter, i believe this is actually a cover up code for "we have no idea how to help you with this so we're going to play the ignorance card and deny any responsibility.")
and regarding said evaluation from NINDS (see government specimen posting), the results have been delayed- shockingly atypical for any type of health care related promise. sarcasm alert! sarcasm alert! dr. NINDS1 assured me at the end of my exam/visit/testing extravaganza that his final notes and recommendations would come no later than the following week- which was well over a MONTH ago. i did receive a message from him on my voice mail (yes, i have begun to check them more regularly- am trying to implement that new years resolution from 2005. better late than never!) a couple weeks ago, letting me know that he would be putting together some "recommendations" that should help alleviate some of my pain issues- another shoddy attempt at stalling. but perhaps that is merely my bitterness making a guest appearance.
so what is next dear readers? i'm certainly not holding my breath for any breakthrough suggestions dr. NINDS1 may offer up in his bare bones evaulation that may or may not ever arrive. i have however realized one of my best weapons in this ongoing battle lies in educating myself as much as possible. i think my brain is over saturated with MS knowledge, so i've decided to concentrate my studies on the fibro aspect.
during the local libary's annual book sale event this summer, we picked up a book on CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and fibromyalgia by mary shomon (living well with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: what your doctor doesn't tell you... that you need to know). after reading her introduction, i was hooked, for she seemed to be describing my descent into hell that occurred in 2005/2006. it was eerily fascinating how similar our demise played out (and continues to evolve) and the book has been amazingly accurate in chronicling conditions' manifestations as well as controversial viewpoints from various practitioners.
the book is peppered with quotes from sufferers of these conditions, and one of the comments really hit home for me. a woman, joyce, addresses the frustration of suffering from an invisible and hard to understand disease, and makes a comparison that, although extreme, is dead on.
"it is a conundrum. i give mixed signals to others... ask how i am. if i say "good, fine" with a cheerful voice, they then make the assumption that i am better, and say "so you are better, you are over it?" then i say no, that it's the same. and i wonder, do they think it odd or wrong for me to say fine? can a quad in a wheelchair say she is fine? of course she can, and no one expects her to get up from her wheelchair. when i say i am fine, i only have to explain more, and the next question, "so they haven't figured out what it is yet?" as though if they had, would i be better? who ever gets better from a chronic disabling condition? people get worse or at best stabilize over time."
7.15.2008
government specimen
NIH Launches Undiagnosed Diseases Program Clinical Researchers to Tackle the Most Puzzling Medical Cases
“A small number of patients suffer from symptoms that do not correspond to known conditions, making their care and treatment extraordinarily difficult."
"...answers to patients with mysterious conditions that have long eluded diagnosis..."
"The goal of NIH’s Undiagnosed Diseases Program is two-pronged: to improve disease management for individual patients and to advance medical knowledge in general.”
these quotes are from a press release earlier this summer, announcing NIH's plan to launch a trans-NIH initiative that will focus on the "most puzzling medical cases" referred by physicians across the nation. sounds pretty glamorous right? just think, my name could be misspelled in an 8 point font bured in footnotes of a medical journal 10 years from now. my my, i can almost taste the sweet juices of glory.
how did my 5 minutes of fame begin? what a good question, let me explain. when i was first diagnosed in 2004, it was through some anonymous doctor who i had stumbled upon via referral after referral. i was so shocked (and numb) from his findings, that my family pushed for a second (and third, and fourth, and so on) consult, which is how i wound up at NIH the first time. when the head doctor in the neuroimmunology dept. concurred with the original diagnosis of MS, the team asked if i would be willing to participate in a current clinical study on the disease progression in newly diagnosed patients. out of respect for the agency, and how quickly and seriously they took my case, i agreed to take part.
i have had many people ask me "what is NIH?"- a question that surprises me, given the agency's reputation and stature in our country's health care system and research findings. NIH stands for the "national institutes of health", located in bethesda, MD, and is the leading figure in ground breaking research and medical breathroughs. basically, it's pretty damn important, and a consult there is one of the best you will ever receive. the other part that always impresses me about NIH is the professionalism that you encounter during your dealings with the agency- the doctors and nurses are compassionate, respectful and considerate of your time, and each others (which is a shock).
i'll explain what i mean by that... part of my exam included a fresh round of MRIs. when dr. NIH1 was speaking with me after my physical exam, he kept looking at his watch and was very conscious of the time- he said (and i quote), "i don't want to hold you up for your MRI appointment- if we're late it will push them behind the rest of the day." i was shocked (and it made me respect him even more, as it showed he had empathy and shared a mutual respect for his coworkers.) also, you do not have to pay for your visit/consult- technically, you are part of their research, and you are assisting THEM in acquiring their information and fulfilling the project they are currently working for. so for a visit like the one last thursday, which included a physical, various coordination/cognitive tests, MRI scans, bloodwork, among others- the tab would have come in in the thousands. but i will never see one single bill.
my experience with NIH 4 years ago was blurry to me. i remember the endless metro rides (and the lovely orange to red line changes), the looooong walk from the station to the clinic entrance (oh god, i just remembered those steep, endless steps!), the kind nurses and comfortable MRI waiting area- but that time period is marred with some emotional trauma that had enveloped me. there was dealing with the diagnosis, going through an extremely difficult breakup, a close friendship and friendship deteriorating beyond my control- sometimes when i would arrive there, in the calm and tidy exam room, i would lay my head against the cool window glass until one of the doctors or nurses entered the room, finally letting the tears flow that i worked so desparately to keep in during all of that turmoil.
but my experience with medical care since has changed quite dramatically. normally, mom and/or dad would have demanded accompanying me to the appointment, and it was a bit of relief when i was able to talk them into me going on the trip solo. it's not that i didn't want their company, but it was unnecessary to sacrifice even more in their life than they have with me- and it is an exam that i have gone through many, many times before. not to mention that dad started his radiation that week, and was already juggling a busy schedule.
i had a few lingering concerns about the transportation though, mostly ones that centered on logistics. taking the metro from kate's apt would have required a walk to the station (that alone would have been impossible, even with a 2 hour start!!), switching trains to a different line, spending close to an hour on the metro, having to walk the 1/2 mile or so to the clinic entrance... not to mention that i had never seen this new doctor before and wasn't sure how he felt about the chronic pain and fibromyalgia correlation to MS (a constant battle or more appropriately speaking, a game of "keep away" from physician to physician).
i pondered who would be available that day who could accompany me- the short answer was no one, since my friends have jobs, careers, families. also, i wanted someone that would be able to play the "bad guy", who would defend me in front of the accusing or disbelieving doctor. the first idea that popped in my head was lori- she's a tough chick, and would have my back in an instant. plus, she has seen me at my worst before, and already knows how tired and run down i get after intensive activities. (also she won't let me get away with my "appearance facade"- as in, she'll force me to use the wheelchair escort, etc.)
so lori picked me up that thursday morning, punctual as always, with a whole BAG full of gluten free pastries from whole foods (ahhh, she knows the way to my heart!) i tore into a poppyseed muffin, but as we got closer, lori became more and more paranoid they would run my bloodwork and the poppyseed recipe would manifest itself as opiates. of course i was ravishing, and beyond caring at that point- positive drug testing or not, i was eating the rest of that muffin! thankfully, she became distracted when we arrived at the entrance and faced an intimidating security screening. as in, we had to get out of the cars while they were searching by unsmiling govt employees as we walked back and forth through metal detectors. it sounds simple i know, but i felt like i was going to be sent to abu ghraib at any second!!!
eventually lori confessed my poppyseed muffin breakfast to the nurse as the vampires were filling endless tubes with my blood. the nurse laughed at lori's paranoia and said that they were mainly checking for pregnancy since they needed a number of MRIs later that morning. (last she heard poppyseed muffins don't cause pregnancy. good to know, right?! hah.) they put me through the usual 6 hour regime of basic physical, bloodwork, MRIs, cognition, coordination skills, walking, oral history... i'm used to most of the tests except for the cognition element that was used. i have not taken those type of tests since the nueropsych exam i went through for my long term disability paperwork in VA. here's how it breaks down:
you will hear a series of numbers, with 5 seconds between each one. you are to add the first two numbers together, tell the nurse the sum, then return back to the number sequence and add the second and third numbers together, giving that sum to the nurse, and so on, and so on. for example, 5..... 3..... 2..... 6..... you would tell the nurse 8, then return and say 5 then 8, and so on. this goes on for approx. 100 seconds, and it was the longest 100 seconds of my ENTIRE LIFE. i failed that exam MISERABLY, and i'm not just saying that. lori sat in on everything (except the MRIs, as she would have caught some horrendous radiation-caused disease), including this cognition part, and the nurse offered to give her the "cheat sheet". i was relieved when she declined the offer, as i was already feeling like a complete dumbass, and i needed someone else to do horribly on the "test" as well. i wanted to scream "WHY IS EVERYONE AGAINST ME?!?!" but i thought better of having a public crazy moment. (since i'm sure NIH has a psych ward. hah!)
the physician who is heading up that dept now was a calm, compassionate, and understsanding older gentleman, so lori's battle armour wasn't even necessary! turns out he used to run a private practice with the majority of his patients having MS and/or chronic pain, so i felt right at ease as i explained some of my most recent, and most challenging, problems. what would happen next is that he presents my case at their weekly dept. meeting, and my summary/recommended next steps will be a compilation of 5 different doctors (that's a plus!). we didn't talk much about the specific study i mentioned above, as i think that is a very long time down the road. the nurse told us that i would hear something in one week (which was last week, but you know how doctors can be w/ time approximations!) and if i am asked back to do more tests and more in depth studies, it will be up to me at that time.
here's how i feel about that: they (NIH) have dedicated a great deal of time and money to my case, which i am extremely appreciative of. if they would like to run more studies and tests, i am a willing subject. if anything, i'd love to give them more research to help specialized cases like mine, so that in the future, others would not have to suffer like i have. it would be the greatest feeling to know that i contributed to that in a small way.
when we were finally "released", lori picked up some delicious corner bakery salads (she claimed there was a "buy 1 get one free sale"- a phrase she tried to con me w/ more than once during my stay!!) and i went through the motions of eating, but all i could think about was how exhausted i was. after she left, i passed out completely, only awaking when i realized i was about to sleep through lori & paul's offer to dine at my favorite rosslyn eatery, guajillo. the rest of the weekend went by in a blur- i was incredibly run down, attacked by a vicious migraine, and extremely sensitive to the ridiculously right DC sun. but as usual, my amazing friends pulled through. julie gathered some former coworkers together for some sparkling vinho verde on friday night, then candy hosted me at her recently redecorated studio at our old stomping grounds (the port royal) for an afternoon of sex in the city & junk food (and a newsbrief on old neighbors and "hotel california" gossip).
“A small number of patients suffer from symptoms that do not correspond to known conditions, making their care and treatment extraordinarily difficult."
"...answers to patients with mysterious conditions that have long eluded diagnosis..."
"The goal of NIH’s Undiagnosed Diseases Program is two-pronged: to improve disease management for individual patients and to advance medical knowledge in general.”
these quotes are from a press release earlier this summer, announcing NIH's plan to launch a trans-NIH initiative that will focus on the "most puzzling medical cases" referred by physicians across the nation. sounds pretty glamorous right? just think, my name could be misspelled in an 8 point font bured in footnotes of a medical journal 10 years from now. my my, i can almost taste the sweet juices of glory.
how did my 5 minutes of fame begin? what a good question, let me explain. when i was first diagnosed in 2004, it was through some anonymous doctor who i had stumbled upon via referral after referral. i was so shocked (and numb) from his findings, that my family pushed for a second (and third, and fourth, and so on) consult, which is how i wound up at NIH the first time. when the head doctor in the neuroimmunology dept. concurred with the original diagnosis of MS, the team asked if i would be willing to participate in a current clinical study on the disease progression in newly diagnosed patients. out of respect for the agency, and how quickly and seriously they took my case, i agreed to take part.
i have had many people ask me "what is NIH?"- a question that surprises me, given the agency's reputation and stature in our country's health care system and research findings. NIH stands for the "national institutes of health", located in bethesda, MD, and is the leading figure in ground breaking research and medical breathroughs. basically, it's pretty damn important, and a consult there is one of the best you will ever receive. the other part that always impresses me about NIH is the professionalism that you encounter during your dealings with the agency- the doctors and nurses are compassionate, respectful and considerate of your time, and each others (which is a shock).
i'll explain what i mean by that... part of my exam included a fresh round of MRIs. when dr. NIH1 was speaking with me after my physical exam, he kept looking at his watch and was very conscious of the time- he said (and i quote), "i don't want to hold you up for your MRI appointment- if we're late it will push them behind the rest of the day." i was shocked (and it made me respect him even more, as it showed he had empathy and shared a mutual respect for his coworkers.) also, you do not have to pay for your visit/consult- technically, you are part of their research, and you are assisting THEM in acquiring their information and fulfilling the project they are currently working for. so for a visit like the one last thursday, which included a physical, various coordination/cognitive tests, MRI scans, bloodwork, among others- the tab would have come in in the thousands. but i will never see one single bill.
my experience with NIH 4 years ago was blurry to me. i remember the endless metro rides (and the lovely orange to red line changes), the looooong walk from the station to the clinic entrance (oh god, i just remembered those steep, endless steps!), the kind nurses and comfortable MRI waiting area- but that time period is marred with some emotional trauma that had enveloped me. there was dealing with the diagnosis, going through an extremely difficult breakup, a close friendship and friendship deteriorating beyond my control- sometimes when i would arrive there, in the calm and tidy exam room, i would lay my head against the cool window glass until one of the doctors or nurses entered the room, finally letting the tears flow that i worked so desparately to keep in during all of that turmoil.
but my experience with medical care since has changed quite dramatically. normally, mom and/or dad would have demanded accompanying me to the appointment, and it was a bit of relief when i was able to talk them into me going on the trip solo. it's not that i didn't want their company, but it was unnecessary to sacrifice even more in their life than they have with me- and it is an exam that i have gone through many, many times before. not to mention that dad started his radiation that week, and was already juggling a busy schedule.
i had a few lingering concerns about the transportation though, mostly ones that centered on logistics. taking the metro from kate's apt would have required a walk to the station (that alone would have been impossible, even with a 2 hour start!!), switching trains to a different line, spending close to an hour on the metro, having to walk the 1/2 mile or so to the clinic entrance... not to mention that i had never seen this new doctor before and wasn't sure how he felt about the chronic pain and fibromyalgia correlation to MS (a constant battle or more appropriately speaking, a game of "keep away" from physician to physician).
i pondered who would be available that day who could accompany me- the short answer was no one, since my friends have jobs, careers, families. also, i wanted someone that would be able to play the "bad guy", who would defend me in front of the accusing or disbelieving doctor. the first idea that popped in my head was lori- she's a tough chick, and would have my back in an instant. plus, she has seen me at my worst before, and already knows how tired and run down i get after intensive activities. (also she won't let me get away with my "appearance facade"- as in, she'll force me to use the wheelchair escort, etc.)
so lori picked me up that thursday morning, punctual as always, with a whole BAG full of gluten free pastries from whole foods (ahhh, she knows the way to my heart!) i tore into a poppyseed muffin, but as we got closer, lori became more and more paranoid they would run my bloodwork and the poppyseed recipe would manifest itself as opiates. of course i was ravishing, and beyond caring at that point- positive drug testing or not, i was eating the rest of that muffin! thankfully, she became distracted when we arrived at the entrance and faced an intimidating security screening. as in, we had to get out of the cars while they were searching by unsmiling govt employees as we walked back and forth through metal detectors. it sounds simple i know, but i felt like i was going to be sent to abu ghraib at any second!!!
eventually lori confessed my poppyseed muffin breakfast to the nurse as the vampires were filling endless tubes with my blood. the nurse laughed at lori's paranoia and said that they were mainly checking for pregnancy since they needed a number of MRIs later that morning. (last she heard poppyseed muffins don't cause pregnancy. good to know, right?! hah.) they put me through the usual 6 hour regime of basic physical, bloodwork, MRIs, cognition, coordination skills, walking, oral history... i'm used to most of the tests except for the cognition element that was used. i have not taken those type of tests since the nueropsych exam i went through for my long term disability paperwork in VA. here's how it breaks down:
you will hear a series of numbers, with 5 seconds between each one. you are to add the first two numbers together, tell the nurse the sum, then return back to the number sequence and add the second and third numbers together, giving that sum to the nurse, and so on, and so on. for example, 5..... 3..... 2..... 6..... you would tell the nurse 8, then return and say 5 then 8, and so on. this goes on for approx. 100 seconds, and it was the longest 100 seconds of my ENTIRE LIFE. i failed that exam MISERABLY, and i'm not just saying that. lori sat in on everything (except the MRIs, as she would have caught some horrendous radiation-caused disease), including this cognition part, and the nurse offered to give her the "cheat sheet". i was relieved when she declined the offer, as i was already feeling like a complete dumbass, and i needed someone else to do horribly on the "test" as well. i wanted to scream "WHY IS EVERYONE AGAINST ME?!?!" but i thought better of having a public crazy moment. (since i'm sure NIH has a psych ward. hah!)
the physician who is heading up that dept now was a calm, compassionate, and understsanding older gentleman, so lori's battle armour wasn't even necessary! turns out he used to run a private practice with the majority of his patients having MS and/or chronic pain, so i felt right at ease as i explained some of my most recent, and most challenging, problems. what would happen next is that he presents my case at their weekly dept. meeting, and my summary/recommended next steps will be a compilation of 5 different doctors (that's a plus!). we didn't talk much about the specific study i mentioned above, as i think that is a very long time down the road. the nurse told us that i would hear something in one week (which was last week, but you know how doctors can be w/ time approximations!) and if i am asked back to do more tests and more in depth studies, it will be up to me at that time.
here's how i feel about that: they (NIH) have dedicated a great deal of time and money to my case, which i am extremely appreciative of. if they would like to run more studies and tests, i am a willing subject. if anything, i'd love to give them more research to help specialized cases like mine, so that in the future, others would not have to suffer like i have. it would be the greatest feeling to know that i contributed to that in a small way.
when we were finally "released", lori picked up some delicious corner bakery salads (she claimed there was a "buy 1 get one free sale"- a phrase she tried to con me w/ more than once during my stay!!) and i went through the motions of eating, but all i could think about was how exhausted i was. after she left, i passed out completely, only awaking when i realized i was about to sleep through lori & paul's offer to dine at my favorite rosslyn eatery, guajillo. the rest of the weekend went by in a blur- i was incredibly run down, attacked by a vicious migraine, and extremely sensitive to the ridiculously right DC sun. but as usual, my amazing friends pulled through. julie gathered some former coworkers together for some sparkling vinho verde on friday night, then candy hosted me at her recently redecorated studio at our old stomping grounds (the port royal) for an afternoon of sex in the city & junk food (and a newsbrief on old neighbors and "hotel california" gossip).
remodeled bedroom area @ candy's place; frank & candy watching SATC; lori, nicole, julie, lara & i (& june, nic's dog)
but the trip didn't ened there! nicole & joel surprised me with a massage from joel's sister on saturday afternoon, which was the BEST treatment i have ever received. for an hour, i was able to escape the physical pain and mental exhaustion of thursday while she managed to revive many of my muscles that had formerly been on strike. her fingers were SO DAMN STRONG, and she was completely professional. you know those people who were put on this earth to do (no, excel) at something? she's one of them. i feel so strongly about this that i have to share her information here- her practice is in georgetown and you will NOT regret booking an appt, i promise!!:
Juliane Sommer (LMT- Therapeutic Massage)
1010 Wisconsin Ave, NW- Suite 345
Washington, DC 20007
202.333.2494 (by appt.)
for now, i'll try to wait patiently (i was never good @ that!!!), and hope that the brilliant geniuses over in bethesda can make some sense out of my complicated medical situation. cheers!
1010 Wisconsin Ave, NW- Suite 345
Washington, DC 20007
202.333.2494 (by appt.)
for now, i'll try to wait patiently (i was never good @ that!!!), and hope that the brilliant geniuses over in bethesda can make some sense out of my complicated medical situation. cheers!
remember, you can view these postings directly on kitkat chat's blog
http://meggerv2.blogspot.com/
6.30.2008
"the family - that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape,
nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to."
(dodie smith)
we've been going-going-going at breakneck speed since our plane landed on thursday afternoon at san jose airport- rehearsal dinner on thursday night, ben & kristen's wedding and reception at testarossa vineyards (which btw, served a house chardonnay... insert drumroll... and i actually LIKED it! and i wasn't faking it either!) the birth of a new Morgensen (alexander kai), a morning-after brunch at the new in-laws (where apparently my aunt diane and cousin ben went in the pool completely clothed- and without force), a cookout at the rudy's, the infamous fish slideshow by uncle joe, fishing at half moon bay... and we're only 4 days into our visit!! i can't claim attendance at all the events, as i couldn't even bribe myself into making the morning after brunch or this afternoon's fishing expedition (although they didn't catch a damn thing- unless an innocent little starfish counts, the poor thing.)
but me? well, i spent the day recovering, huddled under the covers with ben-gay pain patches slapped across various parts of my body, downing pain pill after pain pill. it's official, i admit it- i had overdone it. but how often do i get to see this side of the family? not very much. and besides, we are here 9 days- i'm going to overdo it at LEAST once. i talked my own self off the ledge with this rationale, and the more times i repeated it, the less i felt guilty and isolated from the elusive good time that everyone else must have been having.
there have been some new stories etched in our family history over the past few days. a perfect opening example featured one of the unpredictable (aka under the age of 5) new Morgensen stars at the outdoor ceremony of my cousin ben & kristen's wedding friday night. as ben was reciting the vows that the officiator had been feeding him... i, ben ("i, ben")... take you, kristen ("take you kristen") as my--- but just everyone was getting appropriately teary eyed in expectation, out of "you could hear a pin drop" silence, a high-pitched squeal adamantly interrupted the peaceful moment. "NO BEN! DON'T SAY THAT!!!!!" i turned around to see little tuxedo-clad joey (my cousin autumn's 3~ish year old son) on his knees, his knuckles gripping the back of the folding chair and a look of pure fear on his face. priceless, completely priceless- thank god we caught THAT one on tape!
sunday afternoon, some family friends of my aunt & uncle invited the WHOLE Morgensen clan (well, at least the ones who were outstaying their welcome, us included) over for swimming and bbq'ing. it was your stereotypical california moment- the weather was perfect with a clear blue sky, dotted by puffs of white clouds, the sun was just warm enough (and of course no humidity), the soft green grass was cut close and perfectly even, and the backyard was bordered by lime, grapefruit and lemon trees. (i admit it, i asked if they were real. but seriously, we don't see that back home!! we get our fruit from walmart or whole foods!)
with adorable nathan and joey (again, autumn's boys) screeching with glee and hilariously jumping on my poor brother (who towers over them at 6'5"), i couldn't resist jumping into the fun. ok, so i didn't exactly jump, but i did strip down to my swim suit (one which hadn't seen the light of day since it was bought 2 years ago!) and waded into the water. and it being that perfect CA movie stereotype, the water was a perfectly comfortable and soothing 83-degrees. within seconds of getting in the pool, i felt like my old self- i could swim, and walk, and even pull the kids around with me. it was one of those moments you wish you could sear into your memory. i kept shouting to my parents like an 8 year old- "dad, dad, dad! look at me! mom, look!!" i was so proud of myself, i kept swimming back and forth, across and back, toting nathan to and from the deep end, and playing keep away with the beach ball (which turned into a game of hurling the ball at my brother's head repeatedly.)
another hilarious "insider family" joke example was my cousin jenny's decision to get into the pool in her 2 piece bathing suit. let's put it this way- she has some "decoration" down her right side that isn't exactly G-rated. in fact, i think it might be R-rated (is nudity allowed in PG-13?). i had promised her i'd divert attention if she came out of the water suddenly, or her bikini straps revealed a portion of the design, but instead i found the whole situation hysterically funny, and was NO help in being lookout. besides, the boys were clinging to her like baby monkeys and were more concerned with being dunked into the deep end than to judge her "accessories."
last night, i awoke with some searing pain in my face (damn pesky TN!) and found myself debating the pros and cons of going downstairs to find some frozen veggies that would double as an ice pack. pro- i might actually get a few hours of sleep if i could numb my cheeks. con- i could trip and fall over the balcony, landing on the first floor with a broken back (i've been having spells of intense vertigo- the floor literally looks slanted, at a 45-degree angle.) i finally decided that risking death was worth some relief from the stabbing pain in my jaw, and hugged the wall as i approached the stairs.
i paused in confusion, for it sounded like someone was vacuuming... whoooooooooooooooosh. but who in the hell would vacuum at 2 in the morning, so the likelihood was slim. another sound was attempting to harmonize with the vacuum, but this one was a high-pitched train screeeeeeeeech- like the one you hear when Amtrak brakes at the upcoming station. turns out these sounds were in fact "snores", and they were coming from not ONLY my father, but his BROTHER as well- one from the left side of the house, the other from the right. between the two of them, they had the entire house shaking with their breathing irregularities. thank god that trait wasn't passed down to me, or any future relationships would be quite brief.
allow me a small departure from anecdotes to some deeper thoughts. i feel strongly that there is something innately and uniquely comfortable about family. now, before you get all riled up about this, i will state for the record that i, of all people, understand the drama that can come with family gatherings, or just family in general- the historic squabbles among adult siblings, decade-old grudges from ancient disagreements, personality "quirks" or eccentricities that bring out the worst sides to your own character, bitterness over unpaid debts, secret successes and failures, underlying tension and awkwardness that permeates certain stretches of conversation.
but the comfort comes into the picture from moments like the ones i shared above. it's evident when you're welcomed with arms outstretched by family members you haven't seen in 4 or 5 years, and even some you've never met before. these are people that have heard the same stories, have shared the same experiences, who have laughed over the same memories- they're part of your very own piece of history, a reminder that you're part of something bigger than yourself. those thoughts alone are comforting, and their presence itself is priceless.
i never grew up around an endless number of relatives at sunday dinners, ballet recitals, awards programs, birthday parties, graduation, prom dress shopping, church services... i have always been (and still am) quite jealous of those of you that have grown up in such an environment. any of these would have required nothing less than a private jet to criss cross around the country gathering and depositing grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles to states as far west as california and as far north as illinois. it was a special (and rare) occasion to have family around for thanksgiving or christmas traditions.
so that sense of special occasion when everyone is together is one that i continue to carry with me into adulthood, and our current trip to california is nothing less. during this trip, i have found myself at a crossroads of where i "fit" into our extended (and ever-growing) family tree. when you are a kid, your cousins and yourself are usually the center of attention at family gatherings- especially when the grandparents alive, it's like the circle of history is continuing on with the passage of time.
but as we've gotten older, our family has expanded into second cousins, grandkids that have been replaced by the new generation, great aunts, uncles that have transitioned into grandparents... for me, it was a strange transition at first. my "place" as a grandkid had been erased, so where did i fit in? but watching my cousins' children grow into these little talking, walking, hilarious people brings a whole new element into this thing we call family. it again proves hat we are part of something bigger than ourself, and that no matter how different we may be from one another, we will always have a place in which to belong.
remember, you can view these postings directly on kitkat chat's blog
6.28.2008
newest addition to the Morgensen clan!
alexander kai morgensenborn friday, june 27 @ 10:27pm
approx. 7 lbs, 20"
son of sean & tricia morgensen
grandson of marilyn morgensen, and david & patty morgensen
nephew of jenny morgensen
cousin of autumn, ben#2, ben#1, kristen, meg, mike, nathan & joey
grandnephew of joe, diane, tom & jean morgensen
(great grandson of the late fran & peter morgensen)
actually, there are TWO new Morgensen's to celebrate, but b/c i didn't bring my flash card reader, we only have pics of ONE of the newbies. i will blog about the wedding celebration more effectively once i have some pictures to share. it is now the "morning after" the big affair in downtown los gatos last night, where yet another blushing young bride was officially inducted into the Morgensen hall of fame (what a lucky gal!)
but two Morgensen's (my cousin sean and his wife tricia) were noticeably absent from last night's festivities. on their way to los gatos from their home in Sacramento, tricia began having contractions (approx 4pm). in a typical male fashion, my cousin merely pulled over to the side of the road and "assured" us all that they were simply false contractions and they'd just be a little late to the ceremony. (of course, all of the women in the family were in the background screaming "TURN AROUND! GO BACK HOME!" hahahah.) well, thankfully they DID decide to return home, and during their return trip they realized these were the real deal contractions, so quickly changed their directions to drive straight to the hospital.
only a few hours later, at 10:27pm, little Alexander Kai Morgensen came into the world to a stunned father, an estatic mother, and screaming relatives on the other end of the phone (you could probably hear the shouts of excitement all the way to sacremento from uncle dave's house in scotts valley!) a massive game of phone tag and photo forwarding immediately launched into gear, as no one expected the baby to come THIS soon (tricia was due july 4th and had been to the doctor on wednesday for a check up, to get the clearance to make the trip down for the wedding)- the required contingency of relatives had yet to even make it to sacramento to join sean in his "baby watch: 2008" mission.
mom, dad and i are staying with the newly annointed "grandparents" (uncle dave & aunt patty) and "auntie" (jenny, my cousin) so the celebration quickly shifted gears from wedding to birth in just a short car ride home from the vineyard. we had all donned our pajamas and were saying our goodnights when we heard aunt patty screaming from the tv room- big news had broken! uncle dave broke open the liquor cabinet (if we had planned better we could have grabbed a bottle of champagne from the reception!) and passed around shots of bailey's (i abstained, but we introduced mom to the deliciousness of the beverage) while "ooooo-ing" and "ahhhh-ing" over the 1/2" blurry photo that came through to jen's mobile.
so it's my immense pleasure to introduce to you my newest little cousin, Alexander Kai - approx. 7 lbs. and 20" of pure Morgensen royal blood. grandma and grandpa would have been so happy that the whole family is together for both of these occasions- i wouldn't be suprised if they somehow orchestrating the timing.
*ps-consider this a fair warning kiddo: you're going to have QUITE the grandpa! (hee hee- i just called uncle dave a grandpa!) not to mention some loud, funny, rambunctious, TALL, relatives... and quite good lookin', if i say so myself ;)
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