At 22:43 28.4.2005, you wrote:
>Hiya,
>       I'mmmmm baaaaaaaack. Aren't you  thrilled? I've had a lot of big stuff
>going on lately thus the update. I know  there have been a lot of emails and
>atempted phone calls from people wondering  if I'd fallen off the face of the
>earth.
>
>Unfortunately, I've hit an unusally rough patch the past few  months. While
>I've always been convinced that April is a black whole, things  have been
>actually going down hill since Feb. Because of all the health issues  I've
>pretty
>much failed my school semester and will have to repeat it. I've also  had to
>stop with the volunteering and mentoring programs for now.
>
>I continue to sturggle greatly with headaches and have been in and  out of
>the ER more often. Along with constant dizzy spells which make it hard
>to  focus
>on anything. A few weeks ago we went to my allergist and found out that
>because of my severe allergies, to everything green or even slightly spring
>related, I am only breathing at 70% of my total lung compacity, which totally
>explains the constant dizzy, falling down thing. So we had to start meds
>for  that
>and fight to get the meds covered because medicaid and medicare are really
>really bad about covering prescriptions. So, obviously everything is taking
>more  time to get started.
>
>For those who don't remember, in Jan. 2004 I suffered a major knee  injury on
>my college campus. I got my left leg caught trying to get my  wheelchair
>through a non automatic door and ended up tearing my knee. We have  been
>trying to
>sue the college for not following ADA law in regards to having  enough
>accessiblle entrances.  For that purpose we've been  fighting to locate a
>doctor who
>would treat me. Most orthopedists wouldn't treat  the knee injury because
>they wanted to blame it on my Cereral Palsy. As a  result I basically lost my
>mobilty and have become 95% wheelchair bound. We also  had to drop the lawsuit
>because we couldn't get a doctor to say that the tear in  my knee was not a
>result of cerebral palsy. I literally called all over the  country to find a
>doctor who sess Cerebral palsy patients as adults. There are  sooooo few
>as it is
>still largely mislabled as a pediatric condition.
>
>Anyway we finally found a fantastic doctor and saw him a week  or so ago.. He
>did confirm that my knee was torn as a result of the door injury.  That it
>has nothing to do with my cerebral palsy and that my fuction tests are
>decreased to the point of almost zero function on my left leg. This is
>great  news for
>going forward with the lawsuit. The bad news is, I now need major knee
>surgery to help keep my knee from collapsing whenever I stand. They will
>take my
>outer knee muscle, stretch it so it's pulled tight over the bone. Then  take
>donor tissue, and wrap it around the muscle tight to re-inforce it and  then
>screw it to my bone with 2 metal screws. It's a pretty big deal. They  doctor
>said 3-6 months of rehab PT again everyday, casting, leg bracing, and  pain
>management. We're not sure what the end result will be because the tear
>has  healed
>incorrectly. We just have to pray that I can regain my mobility. Our  house
>is not by any means accessible and if I became totally  wheelchair bound there
>is no way my mom or anyone could take care of me here.  The knee surgery is
>now scheduled for May 16th and will of course require a  hospital stay. Knee
>surgery means no summer classes and no  trip for my oxygen therapy in May
>as we
>had hoped.
>
>I also went to see a new ENT doctor because of all the breathing  issues I've
>been having. I've basically been on antibiotics non stop for 2  months now.
>It turns out that they need to do a sinus reconstruction on me. So  more
>surgery. We scheduled that for May 2nd. I'm not to thrilled about the
>date  since
>that's the day we found out about my father's death, but I'm  trying not to
>believe in bad omens.
>
>I really just need to stay positive and pray a lot about all  of this. The
>main scary thing is that I don't handle anesthesia well. Everytime  I have
>surgery they have trouble bringing me out. When I was 7 I slept for
>48  hrs. At 12.
>I didn't come out  for 16 hrs, and when I had my last surgery I  coded on the
>table and was legally dead for 2 mins. Still I know these surgeries  have to
>be done.. and soon with all the medicaid/Medicare cuts. It's jut going  to be
>a pretty painful spring and summer.  I know I'll be fine and get  through it,
>it's just a little daunting at the moment.
>
>I'm sorry if all of this sounds like one droning, depressing  medical report
>but this is my life right now. School, voluterring, work, and  social things
>are all just imppossible right now with so much going on. As  always I thank
>god for the internet. Even though it's been a yr or more since  I've seen
>any of
>my friends at least we can stay in touch this way. As always I  pray that one
>day I'll be able to travel and see everyone again under happier
>circumstances.
>
>This Saturday, April 30th, is my 24th birthday. If you pray or just  hope
>it'd be great if we could all share in the hope that all of these medical
>procedures will lead me to a much healthier next year of life.
>
>Oh one more thing. Due to lack of funds I have disconnected my  house phone.
>Feel free to call me on my cell anytime. (314)  550-1419
>
>I love and miss you all more then I can say and I pray for your  good health
>always!
>
>CJ aka Christina Jo
>"Blood to blood I summon thee. Bring back the power  of three!" ~Piper
>"Charmed Again"
>
>Believer  in the only TRUE power of 3... LOVE, COMPASSION, STRENGTH