My intent for this blog is to share my story, my fears, and my prayers, in hopes that I can help to inspire others who may be going through some of the same issues which I am facing. I know that for myself, I will find Inspiration from others as well. I have high hopes that this blog will turn into more than just a "blog". I would like to establish a support system for those who seek strength from others who walk, or have walked, a day in the life of pain, fear, emotional roller coaster rides, depression, and everything else which is caused from disabilities of any kind. I encourage you to share your story, whether you are seeking peace and strength, or wanting to offer peace and strength to those whose stories have touched your heart, or who's stories seem all to familiar to you. I encourage you to reach out, tell your story, seek support, seek prayer, seek strength, seek peace, seek whatever it takes to help you through your struggle, and by all means, seek a supportive friend!
I am a 37 year old proud wife and mother! My husband, Brad is 41, my children are Leon(20), Bradley(15),Shaelyn(14), and Grace (8). As you learn more about me, you will better understand why my children, my husband, and my life are all miracles by the Grace of God, and why I feel the importance of doing such a blog!
My husband, our children Bradley and Grace and I moved to an awesome town in Northern Utah in October of 2009. We found a beautiful house, on the side of a beautiful mountain, with a beautiful view across the top of the valley to the beautiful mountain on the other side! (Can't tell I think it's beautiful here, can you?) The snowfalls in the winter are often, and they are often great! During the winter, herds of deer come down the mountain and some often gather in the wooded area in our back yard and peek at us through the chain link fence that seperates them from us! Needless to say, it's the most beautiful and breathtaking thing I have ever seen in my life! I was raised in a small town in Ohio, a "flatlander", so this is very new and exciting for me. I was an over the road truck driver for ten years and have seen some beautiful sites, but none of them can quite compare to what I have surrounding me here!
I have known since I was 9 years old, that life as I knew it, would take a tumble. I never really quite knew when, but I have always hoped to live a full life and to not have to worry about it for many, MANY years to come. I worked hard, I played hard, and I challenged life's obstacles as though I was invisible. I may not have accomplished great things, but the things I have accomplished, have been great!
Two weeks after moving on to our new life, in a new place, a new town, a new state, knowing not one soul here, much less the first doctor, life started making it's change for me. Once again, the right side of my neck bulged out, only this time, it took my right side with it. After a week of massive pain, and a chiropractor who made the conditions worse, I was finally blessed with a doctor who I could afford to go to. Unfortunately, he did not have the answers, only a temporary fix. And it was just that, a temporary fix! I was grateful for the relief and the doctor was grateful for the trust I had put in him. Unfortunately, he knew my conditions were beyond his control as a family physician, the problems laid deeper than he felt comfortable enough to address. The second visit I made to him with the same problem was in less than a month. He then knew there was nothing he could safely do for me, other than to refer me to an orthopedic doctor. Anyone who knows what it is like to not have Health Insurance, understands why I did not visit the ortho doctor right away for this problem. Within yet another month, I was calling him again, crying and begging for his help. He was honest and let me know he did not want to waste my money again, there was nothing he could do for me and he was afraid he would only make for more problems by trying.
The third time put me down and in the emergency room. I was blessed with a compassionate doctor who understood my plea for mercy. He ordered the necessary MRI, then told me it was obvious that I needed to follow up with the Ortho I was originally referred to. At that time, it appeared to my husband and I both that the only answers or treatment I was going to get was to 'bite the bullet' and pay out of pocket to go see this doctor. So that is what we did.
Since that time, I have had to cut corners to get relief and answers, one doctor to another who were all afraid to see me a second time, much less touch me. Anyone who has gone through this process knows how very discouraging and scary this process is. "Is there that much wrong with me that doctors are actually afraid of me? What is the next doctor going to say? How am I ever going to make it through the pain before I can find any answers? WILL I make it through the pain before I find any answers?" The physical, mental, and emotional strain that this process puts on a person is very painful, draining, and by no lessor of a means, scary! There is no way to describe any of the above to anyone who has never experienced it other than to say, "You wouldn't beleive me if I told you, and I do not have the strength to help your disbeleif." The nights of laying in bed crying from the pain, from the fear of what tomorrow will feel like, the frustration of no one around you understanding, the frustration of not knowing what is wrong or where you can turn to find out, the anger of feeling that no one believes you, yet the pain is often so crippling, the anger of feeling like all is lost......it's more than any one person should have to withstand.
In the last four months or so, my family and I have been blessed with finding a church in which we love enough to call home, and a Pastor in Whom we trust to turn to for guidance. I can not emphasize enough just how this has had an impact on many aspects of our lives, not only as a family, but for each of us individually as well. We have been led to once again turn our trust and faith to the Lord, and beleive me when I tell you, for this, all Glory goes to God!
In the last three months, my physical condition has gone down at a pretty good pace. To the point that I now can not live a day without medication and stay intact both physically and emotionally. My body is now starting to immune itself to the medications I am taking, which is taking it's toll on my sleep, my mentality, my emotions, and my life. I have recently filed for disability with hopes and prayers of my application being accepted. I will be undergoing treatment for the rest of my life and facing paralysis and a wheelchair in my upcoming future. There are still more MRI's to do, one on my lower back, and one for my hips and pelvis. They are far from done with me.
The diagnosis' that has led to this point in my life and all of the medications are as follows: Cervical (neck) Degenerative Disease, Cervical Stenosis, Cervical Radiculopathy, Cervical Myofascial Pain, Lumbar ( lower spine) Degenerative Disease, C6-C8 Disk Protrusion, Associated Impingement of the Right 7th and 8th Cervical Nerve, Canal Stenosis at levels C5 thru C7, Multi Level Facet Arthrosis, Chronic Fatigue, Chronic Headaches, Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, and needless to say-Depression.
A 9 year old's trajedy, endless miracles from the Grace of God, now a young woman's fight.
My name is Shannon Wenneberg. Welcome to My Story!
*Alone we can do nothing, but with God all things are possible*
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