by Jamie Holloway | Jul 23, 2014 | Auto-immune, The Magnificent Journey
I will be getting off of the computer and probably won’t be back on until Saturday. I don’t know if I will be taking my lap top to the hospital or not. I won’t know the exact time for my surgery until after 4 tonight, but I know it was...
by Jamie Holloway | Jul 20, 2014 | Auto-immune, Exhilarating People, The Magnificent Journey
The Soap Factory Dark Chocolate body soap bar made with olive oil and coconut oil is amazing stuff. When I get my infusion of Rituximab I get seriously dry skin. It flakes, it itches, and my skin feels like sandpaper. The only thing that I have found that works...
by Jamie Holloway | Jul 16, 2014 | Auto-immune, The Magnificent Journey
Man, the weeks seem to be going by faster and faster. In eight days I will be trachless. I will be going in for my 50th throat surgery. I will be going to sleep with a trach and then waking up without one. I am overjoyed with all the possibilities. There is a...
by Jamie Holloway | Jul 10, 2014 | Auto-immune, The Magnificent Journey
I have some news to share. I saw Dr. Anderson on Tuesday and it looks like I will be having another surgery. Not a dilation surgery. The surgery will be where they will cut off the flap of granulation that I have gotten from the taking out and putting back in my trach...
by Jamie Holloway | Jul 8, 2014 | Auto-immune, Exhilarating People, The Magnificent Journey, Weight
I will start this post out by saying what a ride these last couple of days. First Sunday, I had to go to the emergency room. I have not gone to the ER in almost a year. I woke up Sunday coughing which signals that I need to change my trach. I do not have...
by Jamie Holloway | Jun 30, 2014 | Auto-immune, Exhilarating People, The Magnificent Journey
When faced with a scary and debilitating disease such as Wegener’s one must have a team of doctors to make being well a possibility. I’m thankful that with my stenosis I have a set of doctors that make my well-being a huge possibility. I have been blessed that God has...
by Jamie Holloway | Jun 28, 2014 | Auto-immune, The Magnificent Journey
When I woke up with my trach I have to admit that I was scared to death. I wasn’t able to talk. I wasn’t able to move well. I had tubes coming out of my chest and throat. I couldn’t communicate. I was overwhelmed. I was scared. I was ashamed. Mainly, I just...
by Jamie Holloway | Jun 26, 2014 | Auto-immune, The Magnificent Journey
I have been doing a lot of research this week on emotional support for those of use with trachs. I believe and know for sure now that emotional support has been placed on the back burner and that frustrates me. I know for a fact that there are a lot of emotions...
by Jamie Holloway | Jun 17, 2014 | Auto-immune, Exhilarating People, Inspiring Nutrition, The Magnificent Journey, Weight
It is time for another update on my progress. I had my infusion on June 5th and I am beginning to feel like myself again. I no longer feel the need to sleep all day. I feel rested. I knew from my previous experiences with Rituximab that it would be about a week...
by Jamie Holloway | Jun 9, 2014 | Auto-immune, Books/Music, The Magnificent Journey, Weight
I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. I rested this weekend. I slept a lot. I can only count on my hand the amount of hours I have actually been awake. The rest of the time I was sleeping. Being tired is one of the effects that I get from the Rituximab infusion...
by Jamie Holloway | Jun 6, 2014 | Auto-immune, Exhilarating People, Inspiring Nutrition, The Magnificent Journey, Weight
I told God that I wanted more adventures in my life for my 40th birthday. Boy, has He sure answered that request. I went to Voodoo Doughnuts with some friends. Then I got the letter from Peace Healing informing me that I needed to be tested for Hepatitis C....
by Jamie Holloway | May 31, 2014 | Auto-immune, The Magnificent Journey
I woke in a good mood yesterday morning. I was ready to face the day. I planned on going to the grocery store and buying the items I need. Then come home and watch The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smag. I was looking forward to watching this movie. Instead at 10...
by Jamie Holloway | May 29, 2014 | Auto-immune, The Magnificent Journey
I have been thinking about the word possible the last few days. I had a dream, I know I sound like Martin Luther King, but I promise that is not where I am heading. My dream: I was standing at a podium, ready to give a speech to a big crowd. I was talking about...
by Jamie Holloway | May 16, 2014 | Auto-immune, Exhilarating People, The Magnificent Journey
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Lao Tzu Health, you never know how much it means to until you don’t have it anymore? I like what Lao Tzu says “Health is the greatest possession.” Without...
by Jamie Holloway | May 10, 2014 | Auto-immune, Books/Music, The Magnificent Journey
“Soul Models” by Elizabeth Bryan and Angela Daffron took my breath away. Each story touched my heart with the struggle and then the realization that they could do something to change their circumstances. That they catastrophic events they went through didn’t...
by Jamie Holloway | May 9, 2014 | Auto-immune, The Magnificent Journey, Weight
Gardens are not things of moderation. Jennifer McGruther I’ve been procrastinating writing an updated blog post because I don’t feel like I have anything to report. I will share one simple truth. I failed this week. I have not done any of the circuit training...
by Jamie Holloway | May 6, 2014 | Auto-immune, Books/Music, The Magnificent Journey
One of the people I follow on Facebook recently they talked about “The Nourished Kitchen” by Jennifer McGruther and I knew that I wanted to read this delightful cookbook. With cookbooks I like to be inspired with unusual ingredients and even unusual ideas for...
by Jamie Holloway | Apr 29, 2014 | Auto-immune, Books/Music, The Magnificent Journey
Alternative medicine is something that I have been interested in for a long time. In fact, if I had money I would get a massage, cranial therapy, and a few other therapies. Insurance does not cover things like that so I do what I can with little funds that I...
by Jamie Holloway | Apr 26, 2014 | Auto-immune, Exhilarating People, Inspiring Nutrition, The Magnificent Journey, Weight
Can you believe this is the last week in April? Spring definitely is here. I love spring. Yes, it is that fabulous time of the week where I update you on my progress what I am rocking and what I am not. Every I am doing well this week. I have been doing the exercises...
by Jamie Holloway | Apr 23, 2014 | Auto-immune, Exhilarating People, Inspiring Nutrition, The Magnificent Journey, Weight
Lately I have been rethinking my life and the goals towards my health that I want to accomplish. A big part of me wants to jump in and get started and kick it in the butt. Then there is the wise side of me that knows that jumping right in and not taking it slow...
by Jamie Holloway | Apr 23, 2014 | Auto-immune, Books/Music, The Magnificent Journey
Reading “Change Your Mind Heal Your Body” by Anna Parkinson was like reading my own journey through my own illness. No I don’t have a tumor in my brain. What I do have is an inflammation disease the closes off my throat and with having about 40 surgeries in the...
by Jamie Holloway | Apr 22, 2014 | Auto-immune, Inspiring Nutrition, The Magnificent Journey, Weight
When I went to Gateway Produce here in Vancouver Washington I saw spaghetti squash for a great price. They were .49 a pound, so I bought two. I am sure you, like me have heard that spaghetti squash is a good replacement for pasta. I have not tried it until now. I have...
by Jamie Holloway | Apr 21, 2014 | Auto-immune, The Magnificent Journey
Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend. Me, I had a quiet one. I did end up cooking some yummy new dishes and I will be sharing my recipes and what I did with you sometime this week, so stay tuned. My progress this week went okay. Yes, I went...
by Jamie Holloway | Apr 18, 2014 | Auto-immune, Inspiring Nutrition, The Magnificent Journey
I woke up yesterday on the wrong side of the bed. I didn’t want to do anything, but I had an appointment to go to physical therapy. I begrudgingly went. Mike gave me 4 new stretches to do on top of the ones he has given me before and he wants me to continue to ride...
by Jamie Holloway | Apr 3, 2014 | Auto-immune, The Magnificent Journey
Good day! Time for an update and I am feeling better about things. Physical therapy is amazing. I love it this time around. I don’t know if it is because I am changing my perspective or if I am just ready now and I wasn’t ready before. My PT therapist is amazing. I...
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