An Open Letter Regarding the ACA

Good afternoon.

I'm adding my story to the millions in this country who have been helped by the Affordable Care Act. I'm a 34-year-old woman living in Washington State. All of the jobs that I have worked in my adult life did not offer health care, so for most of those years I went without. It was impossibly expensive to get insurance that was both affordable and actually useful. It's only since Obamacare that I've been able to get the health care that I need. It's not a perfect system, but it's a much-needed step in the right direction.

In the fall of 2016, I was diagnosed with a large (20 x 18 x 11 cm) endometrioid tumor in my abdomen, and I ended up needing aggressive surgery to remove the tumor and all of my reproductive organs. The biopsy confirmed that I had ovarian cancer, and I was fortunate that we'd found it in time before it metastasized. But I was only fortunate because I had regular contact with medical professionals.

I don't smoke, I don't drink, and I had an active lifestyle up until the tumor made it impossible to work. Cancer still got me. It's not hyperbole to say that the ACA saved my life. And for me, my journey is just beginning. I have a long road to full recovery from this surgery. I’m dealing with menopause without the option for estrogen replacement. I know that I'm now at higher risk for things like colon cancer and breast cancer, and this is coming at me at a younger age than I had ever expected. I need to have regular health care to continue my life, and the ACA makes that possible.

Many, many people are in these situations. For-profit ideology doesn't work in health care. People like me are doomed in that system, and it shouldn't be that way. I urge you and everyone who represents the people in government to do everything you can to save the ACA.

Thank you,
Jami Gramore

I Just Had a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo Oophorectomy

...along with the removal of a massive tumor in my gut. More specifically, I had endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the ovary, arising in endometriosis. Wow, that's a mouthful.

Breathe. Just breathe.

Pretty unbelievable, isn't it? I'm still in shock. I just had cancer (and let's make darn sure it stays in the past tense), and now all my reproductive organs are gone. It's hard to even type that. Makes it more real, somehow.

It wasn't that long ago that I went into my PCP's office talking about the digestive issues I was having, along with the distention in my abdomen. I thought it was just that -- gaining some weight in my belly, and having stronger-than-normal gut problems. I've long suspected I had some amount of endometriosis, but my brain didn't immediately jump to giant cancerous tumor. One day in November the bloating and gut pain was so bad that I couldn't go to work and took myself to the ER. Even then, they sent me home with advice about how to deal with gas and constipation. Only after my PCP ordered an ultrasound and a CT scan did we realize that this was a large tumor, and surgery was needed ASAP. I met with the gynecological oncology surgeon, and he rightly suspected endometriosis and possibly some stage of ovarian cancer. Given the likelihood of this condition coming back, we decided it was best to remove all of my reproductive organs along with the tumor.

So now I'm in recovery from major surgery. My gut is really sore, and it's a challenge to do anything that uses my abdominal muscles (which is pretty much everything). I'm really constipated, which isn't helped by the narcotics I've been taking. Passing gas and having a bowel movement on Thursday was my big accomplishment for the week, and the final checklist item that discharged me from the hospital. However, I'm constipated again, despite all the laxatives and stool softeners, so it seems like this will be an ongoing challenge. I'm hoping to be off the narcotics as soon as possible.

Other than that, I'm supposed to walk as much as I can, and rest, and repeat, trying to slowly increase the amount of walking I do each day. Obviously, I'm not supposed to lift anything, so that's frustrating, but my wife and housemate will be here to help. This is going to be a long ride.

Breathe. Be present.

I'm happy to be alive. And all I can do right this moment is focus on my recovery.

---

Follow-up Edit:

I have pictures of the biopsied tumor, and a closeup of the ovary. I'll warn you, it's hard to look at...but it's necessary. Why is it necessary? Because health disasters can happen to anyone, and if it weren't for the medical professionals I was seeing, this could have been a very different story. I was only able to receive that care because I had health insurance. Yes, I'm going to mention the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare, if you will) here. The ACA is not perfect, but it's a major step in the right direction. These are pictures of my cells, that turned against me. Affordable, nay, universal health care is a necessity.

A Symphony of Science, for Caera

Recently I've been watching the original Carl Sagan Cosmos with my sweetie. I love sharing this with her, and I especially like the discussions we have afterward.

Here's some of my favorite Symphony of Science videos, featuring quotes by Sagan and other greats:

Wily Wednesdays - Horticulture Wreaths

Check out my Thanksgiving post on Homegrown Revival to view some of my latest wreath creations: http://homegrownrevival.blogspot.com/2013/11/wreath-making.html

Wily Wednesdays - Crochet Devil Horns

Hi there, remember me? It's been ages since I've posted something here! As you can imagine, I've been all consumed with my mad hot romance with horticulture, which hasn't left much time for crafting and blogging. But I have a few rare free moments tonight, so let me bring out a new and silly craft to share.

More horns!

I promised my friend Chris -- a whole year ago -- that I'd make him a crochet horned helm. I don't know why, but devil horns seemed to suit him. It arrived just in time for Halloween.


Of course I have to try them out.

Wily Wednesdays - Duct Tape Sheath

I wanted to get serious about this pruning stuff, so I bought myself a nice pair of ergonomic Bahco hand pruners -- pretty top of the line in the field and highly recommended. The only problem is, I couldn't find a suitable sheath that matched its unique shape. There are plenty of generic sheaths out there, and specific brands have their own leather holsters, notably this one from Felco...but screw that. I have Bahco pruners and I want the proper shape. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to do some leather working, right?


Well, I had my first pruning field trip today, and not enough time or supplies for leather working, so I ended up taking Randy's silly suggestion and fashioned a holster out of duct tape. You know, a quick, temporary solution -- wrap it around sticky side up, then wrap it again sticky side down. But it's me, so I made it a little more complicated...







It's a perfect, snug fit, so you can hold them upside-down without the pruners falling out. And, uh, good grief this is dorky. I'm not a duct tape freak, but I kind of love it. Eventually I'll grow up and make myself a more professional looking sheath out of leather.

Maybe.

Wily Wednesdays - Psychedelic Swish

This is actually a tease for the next WW...

Wily Wednesdays - Mixed Media Tree

Polymer clay. Paint. Wood. Go!

Here's my Yule gift for Kai. I wanted to try some new techniques with this piece, so it was a nice excuse for experimentation. I went for a filigree style with the sun, moon, and leaves, and then I tried braiding the tree with long strands of polymer clay. I have discovered that braiding clay is hard, but it has so much potential for some cool Celtic designs.

Wily Wednesdays - Dragon Mandala Weirdness

From the archives. I don't know if this colored pencil drawing is from high school or college. Also, I'm not sure what I was thinking when I made this, but it's kind of weird and neat. The image is a little blurry, as I had to stitch it together from multiple not-so-great photographs.

Wily Wednesdays - Crochet Demoness Horns

Last year, I crocheted my own version of a viking hat, and this year I got a request for a similar hat, only with more curved horns inspired by the demoness on the left:


Dude, this was fun to make! I was a little nervous about the horns, especially because I was working with bulky, unconventional yarn for 3-D crochet. But once the first one started taking shape, I liked what was happening.

Living in the Moment, Revisited

If I had to pick a self-improvement theme for 2012, "living mindfully" is the ideal I've worked to embrace. In fact, that was how I started out the year on this blog. Whether I've been particularly successful is another matter entirely, but I can say that I've put a lot of thought and effort into it, especially in recent months. Immediately after coming back from Ohio -- perhaps out of coincidence, perhaps out of a greater need to ground myself after spending time away from home -- I found a little group of folks who like to talk about and practice that concept of living in the moment. It's an interesting mix of people, ranging from folks who are more on the naturalist, atheist side of the spectrum like me to more celestial and modern religious/spiritual perspectives. Ultimately, though, we're able to come together on the same wavelength to explore meditation and living in the moment.

With that thought in mind, I came across an interesting article today that delves into the psychology of awareness and looking inward, and how that can empower and heal: The Brain's Ability to Look Within: A Secret to Well-Being. You know me -- I love exploring the science behind everything I do (and think), and this explanation about the two different paths the brain uses for attention is a good example of what I mean when I say I strive to live intentionally.

Learning to tune into our bodies could have other beneficial consequences as well. We are so used to directing our attention outward that we often don’t even really taste food because we are too busy watching TV or distracting ourselves in other ways. However, research suggests that our greatest moments of happiness are times we spend fully involved and engaged in a situation: be it a physical activity, a sensory experience, or intimacy with another person. If we are distracted, we are depriving ourselves of some of the greatest sources of happiness.

Next time you find your thoughts racing and emotions blaring out of control, instead of trying to talk yourself out of the situation or turning to a glass of wine, have a seat, take some deep breaths and tune into your body, or go to a gentle and awareness-based yoga or meditation class. Farb’s research suggests that we have an inbuilt ability to calm ourselves down. We just need to take a deep breath.

Wily Wednesdays - Hat for the Hero of Canton

Nothing new this week, so I'm posting an old little crochet project I remembered while going through the craft closet over the weekend. I do love geeky crafting, and I can't wait to reveal my next project (which, sadly, is only in my head at this point).

And yes, for all you diehards out there, Jayne Cobb's hat should be knitted instead of crocheted, but thankfully I don't care about losing geek cred.

Wily Wednesdays - Funky Clay Bottle

This week I ventured into polymer clay again. When I was crafting last Yule, I loved sculpting clay around glass bulbs for tree ornaments, so I wanted to try it out with a vase or bottle. Here's what happened:

Wily Wednesdays - Treasure Chest

Okay, I've got to own up to something. I have a guilty pleasure (addiction?) for geeky Perler Bead creations. This silly medium lends itself too well to pixel art, and I can't help indulging in some nostalgic Nintendo crafts. I made little Hylian shield, and then I realized it needed a container, so I set out to build a proper treasure chest. What ensued involved a bit more time and beads than I had originally planned, but I'm glad I put in the extra effort.


Here's what the individual pieces look like. For the right-angle edges, I really wasn't thinking, otherwise I would have alternated the beads in a jagged fashion so they locked together on the sides. Oh well, noted for future projects. To create the domed top piece, I only ironed one side and bent it into the proper shape while the plastic was still hot. I had no idea how well that was going to work, but it came out better than expected. Next, I lined each of the pieces with blue felt.

When I was ready to assemble the pieces, I toyed with the idea of sealing them with heat, either using the iron (which is a tad awkward) or a heat gun (which could easily and quickly ruin the box if I messed up). Threading it together with embroidery floss seemed like a pretty good idea, and with Kai's insistence, I went that route instead of using heat or glue. I even sewed on the hinges, because...why not?

Wily Wednesdays - Cosmic Dance

Time for another fractal piece. This one's from 2007, I believe.

Jonesing to get back to school

As I mentioned in June, I'll soon be attending the Lake Washington Institute of Technology to work on a year-long program in environmental horticulture. The best time to start the program is during the fall quarter, obviously, but that didn't quite work out with my schedule. I got the idea just a little too late this year, and I'd already planned my trip back to Ohio in the fall, among other things. C'est la vie. So I'll start winter quarter in the beginning of January, and in the meantime, I'll at least try to keep up with the academic side of the fall quarter so I'm not too behind.

Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to sit in on a day's worth of classes to get a feel for what it was like. Actually, the timing worked out pretty well, as they'd just taken their midterm exams and were beginning the second half of the quarter that day. Class started at 7 a.m., and yeah, it felt weird waking up that early. Even when I did college the first time around, I never had a class earlier than 8 a.m., so it should be interesting to see how well I can pull this off on a regular basis. I was fine for one day, but I really made an effort to wear myself out the night before (productive evening at the gym) and get to bed at a reasonable hour. There is another option available for a 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. class, which runs from Monday to Thursday instead of Tuesday to Friday, but it wouldn't work as well with my job.

I walked in to a blessedly small class (I think there were about 20 students), with small groups of students sitting around tables. It was nice to see the diversity of ages and backgrounds -- people have come in from all walks of life. I realize that's probably the norm for community college, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. One group of women welcomed me to their table and gave me a briefing on what they've been doing in the quarter so far. 

The first part of the day covered plant ID. The students' daily homework includes going through a list of five to ten plants and recording information about them to review during the next day of class. The instructor had samples of each of the plants on every table, and we examined and talked about them (scientific name, common name, type of plant, characteristics, pruning, landscape usage, etc.). There's a lot to learn here, but I like the approach, and it breaks things down into manageable chunks. It's a little intimidating to think of a long list of scientific names and traits to commit to memory, but after seeing how they go through the material, I feel better about it -- and excited enough to give myself some homework over the weekend!

After doing that for an hour or so, we went out to the greenhouse for some hands-on practice: re-potting plants, pruning, watering, and filling containers with the proper density of soil. Then we came back in for the botany lecture (and it was great to realize how much I remembered from over a decade ago). The class ended with another outside lesson on all the factors that go into giving plants the right amount of water.

So that was Wednesday's class in a nutshell. I loved seeing what a typical day looked like, and it was nice to chat with other students about their experience so far. I'm still kinda bummed that I didn't get the chance to start the program fall quarter, but oh well. I do plan to sit in on another class (or possibly more, if the instructor will let me), so that's something to look forward to. All in all, I just want to get my hands dirty already!

Wily Wednesdays - Nine-point Star Afghan

This afghan has been in the works for over two years, but I finally finished it! It's the second biggest crochet project I've ever completed (the first being the rainbow striped afghan). Inspired by my friend Chaya, who crochets in such a wonderfully free-form manner, I wanted this project to be a little less patterned and uptight. (It's a little sad that something like this is a challenge for me -- guess it says something about my personality and how I need to loosen up!) My original thoughts were to start with a basic shape and move outward, without a predetermined set of yarn, a pattern of stripes, or final dimensions for the afghan. In fact, I purposely committed myself to only using yarn I already owned (goodness knows I've got enough of it). I enjoyed the process, and I'm pleased with the way it came out. I set it aside occasionally for months at a time, but so it often goes with long projects.





Bonus: It folds up in a more creative way. Rectangular folds are for squares.




In 2010, I toyed around with the idea of selling this afghan, but once it took shape, there was no way I was going to give it to a stranger. Happy belated birthday, Chaya!