This is the long overdue
update. Towards the end of the 2015/2016
school year my friend, Vanessa, and I planned a trip to Ireland. I knew that I wasn’t having surgery, so there
was nothing I could do about my jaw.
Before the vacation, I called the surgeons office and left a message for
the head nurse because I needed muscle relaxers. In addition, I sent her an email. There was no response. I took it as a hint that they were done
treating me until there was something they could do.
The vacation was amazing. We drove through southern Ireland and stopped
at all the places we planned to see. The
weather was always perfect for pictures and sightseeing.
Since getting the news last
October that I am allergic to nickel and unable to get the implants, I have
really tried to come to terms with the fact that this is the way I am always
going to be. It’s been rough, but I knew
I had to except this fact. My surgeon
needed to fill out pages of paperwork and send it to the FDA. Once that was complete I would be placed on a
wait list for titanium implants. The FDA
only allows 5 titanium implants per year, so I knew I was probably 5 years from
hearing anything.
Some of my friends and family
felt as though I needed to bother the doctor to get the paperwork done, but I
refused. I had to decide what was best
for me, my mental health, and my jaw; therefore, I decided to relax and let go
of stressing about surgery and the ifs.
I put it out of my mind, and realized that maybe God had another plan
for me. Maybe, while I was waiting,
something better would come out. Who
knows? Yes, I was still in pain and
having problems, but I was just going to have to suck it up and wait.
August 15, 2016 was the first
official day back to school with children.
This year I teach two twelfth grade honors classes and three junior
regular classes. I am also on the
Professional Development Committee, which meets after school several times a
month. In addition, I’ve taken on being
the 11th grade Professional Learning Community leader. Plus, I am the Criminal Justice club
sponsor. I’ve also decided to renew my
National Boards, which is a huge pain in the butt! This year I’ve signed up for quite a bit, yet
I know that it is going to be my best year teaching high school yet.
Well…sometimes things just
don’t go as I planned. On 8/17 I
received a phone call from the head nurse.
Apparently she’s been trying to reach me. I was one of the five people chosen for
titanium implants! I am excited, scared,
and stunned all at once. I could barely
believe what I was hearing. I made an
appointment for 9/7/16 and will see what the next steps will be. Depending on what decision is made, and when
the surgery is set up, I might not be able to renew my boards. That’s okay with me. Right now I am working on not stressing and
going with the flow. This has been a valuable lesson about timing and being
patient.
