When I woke up last Wednesday, I felt a little queasy, which is not unusual for me. But after 15 minutes, the queasiness escalated, and by the time I fed the dogs, there was a burning fluid rushing from my stomach to my throat. I couldn't hold it in. It splattered out of my mouth and…Read more Good-bye 2017!
immune deficiency diseases
Sewing Stitches vs Surgery Stitches
This morning at 7 am, as I sat in the Radiology department of the hospital, all prepped for surgery to remove my port, I found myself rehearsing what I was going to say to the surgeon. "Look, it's not terribly red anymore, and it doesn't hurt. Can we skip the surgery?" These were not the…Read more Sewing Stitches vs Surgery Stitches
Unanswered questions about an uncommon illness
Forgive me for whining, but lately I've been feeling alone in my struggle with my recently placed Power-Port, the grape-sized catheter in my chest, that I need for monthly IVIG infusions. The surgery was 3 months ago, and it still hasn't healed. When I showed my inflamed port to a doctor a month ago, I…Read more Unanswered questions about an uncommon illness
Goodreads Book Giveaway
I'm a little late announcing this since I was hospitalized, but since I'm still here(ugh!), I have time to do it. I've never done a book giveaway, but if you visit this link, they'll walk you through it. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/260132-giving-paws-having-a-service-dog-for-a-hidden-disability Giveaway dates:Oct 22 - Oct 30, 2017 Thanks from Martha and Henry!!
A Sudden Change in Plans
Last Thursday I went to my volunteer job at the hospital, but I never made it home. Two months ago I had a surgery to remove a 7 year old central line catheter from the right side of my chest that had gotten clotted. Shortly thereafter I had a second surgery to have a new…Read more A Sudden Change in Plans
A Spiritual Review of Giving Paws
“Giving Paws: Having a Service Dog for a Hidden Disability” Martha L. Thompson tells her story Posted September 15, 2017 · Martha L. Thompson’s book, Giving Paws: Having a Service Dog for a Hidden Disability, is a book about one woman’s discovery of her own soul as it comes, again and again, to a choice between…Read more A Spiritual Review of Giving Paws
Dogged Hope
Anyone living with a physical or mental illness knows how easy it is to lose hope. I have an immune deficiency disease and colitis, which have made me dependent on a feeding tube, and I battle depression and anorexia, so I often feel hopeless. But over the years I have discovered things that lift me out of the abyss, the most important being my animal family. Currently I have 4 turtles, 4 quail and 3 dogs, one of whom is my service dog, Henry. My experience with Henry inspired me to write my second book, GIVING PAWS: Having a Service Dog for a Hidden Disability, due in October 2017. Martha Thompson
Dogged Hope 