Jennifer L.'s Story: Still Standing

Without starting at the beginning & truly sending anyone into a tailspin of tragedy & despair, I'll start with my adult life issues. While pregnant with my son in 2009 (after numerous miscarriages & failed attempts to conceive), I was considered a high-risk pregnancy due to my age of 36 & horrific back pain I was having. The doctor I worked for had moved out of state & I was told to take it easy so I stayed out of work. I've always loved taking care of everyone else so to take care of myself was different. Fast forward to having my son, I was in labor for 2 days, my heart rate skyrocketed, I couldn't breathe & my son wasn't coming out. My worst fear had come true & the cord was wrapped around his neck. I had to have an emergency c-section and he was healthy. I continued to have severe back pain & due to not getting any results or answers, I changed Primary care Doctors. I was sent to a specialist who did an MRI who found a fracture in my spine. Surgery #1 done & a few weeks into recovery my Dad was driving me to college because I was told I could no longer be a nurse so I needed a new plan & the woman behind us wasn't paying attention and slammed into our car. That gave me fracture #2 & a year and a half later I went for my 2nd surgery. Upon recovering my Mom gave me the absolute worst news of my life that she was diagnosed with ALS while I was in the hospital. My new mission was now focused on recovery, my son & taking care of my Mom the best way possible. 2 years later I ended up with pneumonia (I also have Sarcoidosis especially in my lungs) and I was coughing so hard fracture #3 happened. My Mom was still stable enough for me to have surgery which I had so my entire lumbar region is titanium with rods & screws & I felt better than ever. She started her decline & my Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. My son & I had to move in with them so I could help take care of them both. My Mom fought a long hard 9-year battle with ALS but lost her fight Oct '22. Still living with my Dad it was definitely difficult & my son suffers from ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD and an eating disorder. My son & I have always been extremely close & I try to be his rock, but his world was crumbling around him. A few months after my Mom passed I started having severe leg pain & eventually couldn't even walk. A plan was set for another surgery but I was waiting for family from out of state to come help with my Dad & son. While waiting my symptoms got so bad I was no longer able to have feeling from the waist down. I finally had surgery in August but a week and a half later I turned septic and went unresponsive. The ER said if my family hadn't gotten me there when they did, I'd be dead. I have severe nerve damage, I have no control of bathroom stuff so I'm wearing diapers which is not what I want my life to be at 50 years old. I'm in constant & chronic pain & told I may need another surgery. I used to take care of everyone & everything & now I'm stuck in my recliner in my thoughts wishing I could be "normal" again. I also have rheumatoid arthritis so my joints are twisting & crippling up & I'm feeling so much older than I should be. I have a 14-year-old who needs me & a Dad who still remembers who I am & relies on me to get him to appointments & spend summers together at our camp.

My body has been literally giving out for years, my heart has stopped once & I almost died last summer from being septic after my 4th spinal surgery. I was more worried about taking care of my Dad with Alzheimer's than the fact that I couldn't walk or see.

I wake up each morning which is a blessing. I have an amazing son who has the biggest heart even through his own struggles & I need to be here for him. I have the 2 sweetest cats who don't leave my side & I need to make sure they get their cuddles & nourishment and I have my fiancé of 17 years who may not be perfect but we are still here fighting this together.

Trying to move closer to happiness by getting tickets to a concert my son has wanted to go to that they haven't done in years & it's an event I grew up going to. We are planning a family trip to go see my Mom's side of the family this Thanksgiving in California. I miss my Mom beyond belief & being with her side of the family makes me so happy & helps me feel closer to her. Even on the dark days, when I'm in so much pain it's almost impossible to move, I still make myself get up, get moving & see the light shining wherever I can.

My whole life is summed up as a Beautiful Disaster & I'm in love with the clothing line.

Warrior, Unbreakable, Still Standing and Wolf are my absolute favorite collections!  I am Still Standing!!