Going through all that I did and coming out basically healthy, with a few snags along the way, leaves a person the same, but different. I call it my “new normal”. Although when you look at me from the age of ten, after my first surgeries up to now, you see a perfectly normal person, or what the general public thinks is normal. I have been blessed that, although I am different than everyone else, I can hide it out of plain sight. I needed to realize that my body works different, looks different, and will never be like most people. I need to carry medical supplies at all times, dress to perfection so I can “hide” my secrets, and always be aware of what the course of my day may turn out to be. This is who I am, who I have become, and I not only accept this, I embrace it. I wake and thank my higher power every day for making me that much more special!
Yes, I go to the bathroom quite often, I need to never forget my medical supplies or I will not be able to function, and there are some small things I shy away from whether it be certain foods or certain activities as to not hurt myself. This is my new normal. As a matter of fact, it is just normal. I love my new normal and would not change a thing. I am here and living life.
As many of you sort through your “new normal”, whether you are the patient or a family member, remember that this is just a step in the process. I look forward to hearing about some aspects of your “new normal” that you didn’t expect and any advice you have received to help you through this transition.
