Category: Summertime

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I’m Backkk!!!!

jamiesjourney0591

Hey Everyone, Sorry for the “hiatus”. Things got chaotic but in a good way for the most part.

In March 2023, I returned to Baylor in Houston and got the results of my bloodwork – My “Chromosome Microdeletion” is on the Chromosome(s) 15.21.1-15.21.2 (its rather small) and very rare. There is no other deletion exactly like mine; there are some that are similar, but I am a medical anomaly (as if I didn’t know that already LMAO!)

Somewhat Sadly, In July 2023, My (now ex) fiance of 5 years and I broke up. There were many issues and TBH I think I mostly stuck around because I adored his family. I was sad about our relationship ending at first, but shortly after, his true colors of his personality showed up, but I am not going to air his dirty laundry on here- all I am going to say is what he did after we broke up (Despite trying to stay friends, I had to eventually cut him off for my mental health well being), but, he “shot himself in the foot” of any chances of us getting back together. I am happy to say however that his family still keeps in contact with me and his sister even still lets me see her kids who still refer to me as “aunt Jamie”.

In Other News, Around April of 2023 I got the vision of doing a “podcast” (Sugar Spice and Everything Nice- St Landry Parish) of Promoting Opelousas/St Landry Parish- events, hidden gems of stores/restaurants/etc, good news, etc. as all that makes the news is “bad news” and I don’t agree with that- why only see the bad when theres so much good also? (That’s another thing about my Ex: when I told him about him, he didn’t support it “Why you wanna do that? There barely is anything ever good that happens around here? It wont change anything,” meanwhile I always tried to support every idea he had, But, whatever.)

Shortly after I started my “podcast”, Parish President Jessie Bellard had reached out to me to attend a meeting of a board to help “Push/Promote St Landry Parish.” Shortly after that happened, Guns Down Power Up Founder Eric Williams reached out and asked if I’d be interested in becoming the new Vice President on the organization Board (I made a year as VP in July 2024). Finally, by going out to these events and networking with the community, I am meeting pillars and leaders in the community- other organizations, etc – that could help guide me towards accomplishing some of my biggest passions and dreams that I have had for a long time!

Finally, Guns Down Power Up, thanks to Superintendent Milton Batiste and Marshal Paul Mouton, got some classrooms at the old North Elementary school campus and we were able to do our first ever SUMMER CAMP, which was an amazing success, and I can already see it getting bigger and better with time. #TeamWorkMakestheDreamWork

While yes, my pain is unbearable sometimes and there are days it’s very hard and I just want to “give up,” All the blessings I see in my life, I can’t wait to see what other exciting things await. Now if only my body pains would go back to what they were in 2013-2017, and I’d be on cloud 9, but we can’t have it all.
I will just take one day at a time, that is all any of us can do.

God Bless Everyone!!! ❤

-Jamie

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Scoliosis Journey: Cough,Cough, first Summer Pneumonia

jamiesjourney0591

Due to the severity of my Scoliosis/Kyphosis, in summer after 4th grade, I had my first bout of Pneumonia. For those who may not be aware of everything that Scoliosis effects, here’s a health lesson; it’s not just the spine. Sure, the definition is “Lateral curve of the spine,” but it all depends on the severity. My Scoliosis became what is known as Kyphosis, “Hump Back,” and is multiple curves, whereas Scoliosis is just one curve. The more a spine curves, the more it can cause other internal problems in important organs such as the heart, stomach, lungs, etc. Before my surgery in 2012, my lung capacity was 18-20%, I had ribs twisted around my spine, a lot of stomach problems, and problems that were never diagnosed or discovered until my pre-op visit or after surgery; (How weird is that?) Anyway, I was almost finished with my week of Summer VBS (Vacation Bible School- a weeklong camp that is put on by local churches/religions), when the Wednesday night, I started to develop a cough. Mom took me in to see my pediatrician, and he said, it had started as a typical “summer cold,” and due to my hatred of shots, my doctor just gave us cough medicine. The medicines, however, did not work, instead, my cough progressed until I had a “popping” in my back every time I coughed. I say Pneumonia, but it might’ve been bronchitis that was turning into Pneumonia, I don’t remember exactly what the doctor had told my mom, other than the fact I needed a shot; that memory stuck with me!
We went down to the pharmacy that was in the same plaza as my pediatrician’s office and as soon as we got back to the doctor’s office and I saw that needle, I had a full meltdown in the doctor’s office, to the point where mom had to hold me down. Normally shots are given in the arms, or the butt, right? Mine was in my legs because it was the only spot on my body that had “any meat” on me. You should’ve seen it, mom holding me in her lap, me tossing and turning, her having to trap my legs under hers so I wouldn’t try to kick; I laugh now that I think about it because shots aren’t that bad anymore, sure they are unpleasant, but really a quick pinch and then it’s over.

After the shot, I was crying and telling my doctor “I hated” him and how “he was so mean,” being a total brat, but by that night, I felt like 50% better. Shots may suck, but you feel a lot better afterward because they work quicker than medicine. Life is a lot like a shot, there are changes we don’t like or can’t deal with, we cry and boo-day about it, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is going to happen; it’s a slight “pinch” (shock/anger/sadness, etc), but then we adapt to it and are over it.