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Pat Garcia
Mexico
I'm an ESL teacher, a translator,an artist and a lover of peace, life and beauty. I have been fighting and living with different chronic illnesses since 1999 when I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor. Words like Cushing's, hypothyroidism then Hashimoto's, metabolic syndrome and recently generalized postictal epilepsy ,pineal calcification and cortical atrophy have been very real to me.......I have won many battles and have lost a few but I do plan to finish the marathon of life in triumph I expect to reach the finish line,already traced for me by God's finger. Philippians 3:13-14 Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
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I drew this after receiving the adenoma diagnosis in 1999

Psalm 19

Psalm 19
Pat Garcia receiving the sunrise. Photo: Victor Alonso Martinez Garcia

The journey.....................................


marathon of life: How did all this begin?

Dioko in greek means to follow or press hard after, to pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain, to go after with the desire of obtaining.

marathon of life: Surviving a brain tumor

As we face many storms faith is like an anchor that keeps us from drifting and casting away in order to continue our journey, sometimes facing frightening waves, sometimes on dry desert land or cold inhospitable weather .

Marathon of life: Finding out about Epylepsy

At least I knew what was attacking my body I knew what was happening yet it was so painful. Thyrotoxic episodes were exacerbating seizures.

In patients with established epilepsy (including generalized epilepsy syndromes), seizures and paroxysmal EEG abnormalities can be exacerbated by hyperthyroidism In other patients, focal or generalized seizures occur only during thyrotoxic episodes. Seizure exacerbations usually remit when patients become euthyroid with treatment.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

I lost my shape to thyroid condition.

I'm a little heavier now

I'm the heaviest I have ever been in my whole life, I have also developed an insidious double shin, at least my brain is working perfectly well now, my hair is not falling out anymore, but medication seems to have inhibited my creativity.............. I'm not drawing or writing or taking any more photos. I don't have those spontaneous "This is so full of beauty thoughts" but at least I'm not aware of any more absence seizures. I'll have to look for ways to enhance creativity again.
I had the experience of being in top physical appearance a few years back, working out, dieting, inspite of my condition I really looked and felt great but many things where happening inside my brain, inside my glands until one day it all collapsed.
I have had the experience of dedicating myself to all that which is physical, I reached many goals but somewhere along the way my mind, and my brain were suffering from thyroid storms, wrong medicine dosages, stress, absence seizures , you name it. In order to overcome this new form of attack I had to emphasize my spiritual life rather than the physical part of myself I was starting to look good on the outside again but all the internal damage was very well concealed.
One day coming out of the gym I had what seemed like a very dramatic respiratory crisis, which was the beginning of my lung problems.On top of everything else! It has taken a while to have than under control but thank God it's in control now. I can breath easily again I don't use an inhaler anymore and I haven't had vertigo for a while so I can slowly start exercising again.... just about time before I get any heavier due to my thyroid condition. I'm facing this with contempt but I do know I'm running out of clothes that fit and my body is screaming to have all the extra weight off. I move slowly, bend down slowly but I thank God I feel good inside. I totally feel myself again, inside. The goal now is to keep a good balance of spiritual things, mental challenges and physical shape.
I feel confident I will do well. I have God on my side and excellent new doctors.

I translated for a parents seminar this Saturday it went well, I felt secure and confident, I have learned not to let my extra weight cause feelings of low self esteem. Our real beauty and value is inside and it reflects on the outside. I have been told my face shines with tenderness and God's love more than ever before. It's not a proud comment, it is a happy comment of what God can do in our lives and hearts. We are more than good looks and good bodies. God knows how much I have tried to get mine back and I almost get there for brief periods of time. I guess I have learned not to give up but not feel frustrated I don't. I do my best, I'm fighting against several illnesses. The victory I've had is not how I had expected, it is not superficial. If you are going through this kind of trial I want you to know that. There are greatest victories to what meets the eyes look for those edifying triumphs in everyday life. Don't focus on negativism, if you are get up, take a shower, get help, set your mind to it. It is not your fault if you feel devastated, you are fighting against an infirmity, you may have war wounds that need healing.

2 Corinthians 4:16 (New King James Version)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

Photos taken during our food bank outreach

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