Tomorrow (August 27th) school starts! I am currently not quite sure
whether I am excited or nervous; I suppose I am a little of both. :)
I will be a senior this year at Texas Woman's University in Denton and I
am excited to complete my last year before receiving my bachelor's in
kinesiology! It is amazing how fast the years have gone and yet when I
look back I recognize how much work has been done. So many days spent
studying before a test... so many papers completed... so many stressful
classes... so many prayers and words of encouragement from others! God
has been a constant presence in my life and He has helped me arrive
where I am today! What an example of His faithfulness to us! Praise be to Him!
As
was the case last year, I will be living with an older woman. She has
agreed to again allow me to rent a room in her home and I am blessed to
have such a wonderful living situation! Unlike last year however I will only be
living at Mrs. Hanselman's Sunday afternoon thru Wednesday evening. My
classes end at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday and I have decided to drive home
and live with my family the rest of the week.
So, what does my school day look like? Below I have written a schedule of the courses I will be taking at TWU this year.
Monday & Wednesday:
Health and Fitness Lab = 9:30 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.
Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology Lecture = 11:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Health and Fitness Lecture = 1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday:
Measurement & Evaluation = 8:00 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.
Psychology of Professional Development = 11:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Neuroanatomy & Neurophysiology Lab (only Tuesday) = 12:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.
I am interested in the content of each of these classes and excited about learning new information this year! Please pray for me as I study and learn this school year!
I am also excited about attending a Bible study on
Tuesday evenings. This Bible study for college students is organized by
the First Baptist Church in Denton and, if you are interested in
learning more information about it, visit - overflowdenton.org. I would appreciate prayer that I would have opportunities this year to meet and fellowship with godly Christian peers.
Thank you so much in advance for your prayers! They are very much appreciated! It is my goal to be more purposeful in posting updates of my life
throughout this fall semester. Therefore, I intend to publish a blog
post at least once every two weeks. It is my desire to be an encouragement to others as I record my life experiences while serving an amazing and wonderful God!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
My Journey with a Pilonidal Cyst: Part Two
Here is the third and most recent email update sent to friends and family
regarding my recovery from my journey with a pilonidal cyst.
"Hello everyone!
Again, thank you for your prayers, emails, and letters of encouragement! I apologize that I have not recently updated all of you on how I am doing...
I had an appointment with the surgeon, Dr. Valerie Gorman, last week (June 24). We had hoped that she would remove the stitches, however, after changing the packing, it was decided that the wound had not healed enough. She scheduled our third appointment for August 2 and told us that we would evaluate things at that point.
The afternoon of my appointment on the twenty-fourth, I watched my family swim at the Wycliffe pool and then spent some time outside with my younger siblings. This was the most activity I had performed since before the surgery! I enjoyed myself, but my body did not respond well to the exertion. By that evening, I was in quite a bit of pain, the most pain I had experienced since the surgery. I remained on the couch for the next couple of days recovering. My brother, Tella, asked whether or not the activities were worth the pain; it wasn't! :) Please pray for me to have patience during the recovery process.
By Sunday or Monday, I was feeling much better and was looking forward to having the stitches removed. However, on Tuesday of this past week (June 31), I slipped and fell coming down the stairs! It was unexpected and a little startling, to say the least! I landed almost directly on my low back and the wound immediately began bleeding. I also experienced a high level of pain. My mother examined the area directly after I fell and was concerned that the incision might have slightly opened.
The surgeon was unable to see me on August 2 due to illness she was experiencing. However, the nurse encouraged me to come to the office yesterday morning in order to evaluate the potential set-back. She examined the wound and determined that a portion of the incision has indeed opened. This was disappointing and results in some adjustments in the packing process that initially make things a little more uncomfortable. We have another scheduled appointment with the surgeon on Thursday, August 9. Please pray with us as we deal with this new situation.
Classes at Texas Woman's University in Denton begin for me on August 27th. We are considering contacting the Health Center on campus, as it is likely that I will have to continue packing the wound for some time. Please join us in praying that the wound will heal well and swiftly. Also, pray that my transition to school will go smoothly.
Thanks again,
Morelle Cummins"
"Hello everyone!
Again, thank you for your prayers, emails, and letters of encouragement! I apologize that I have not recently updated all of you on how I am doing...
I had an appointment with the surgeon, Dr. Valerie Gorman, last week (June 24). We had hoped that she would remove the stitches, however, after changing the packing, it was decided that the wound had not healed enough. She scheduled our third appointment for August 2 and told us that we would evaluate things at that point.
The afternoon of my appointment on the twenty-fourth, I watched my family swim at the Wycliffe pool and then spent some time outside with my younger siblings. This was the most activity I had performed since before the surgery! I enjoyed myself, but my body did not respond well to the exertion. By that evening, I was in quite a bit of pain, the most pain I had experienced since the surgery. I remained on the couch for the next couple of days recovering. My brother, Tella, asked whether or not the activities were worth the pain; it wasn't! :) Please pray for me to have patience during the recovery process.
By Sunday or Monday, I was feeling much better and was looking forward to having the stitches removed. However, on Tuesday of this past week (June 31), I slipped and fell coming down the stairs! It was unexpected and a little startling, to say the least! I landed almost directly on my low back and the wound immediately began bleeding. I also experienced a high level of pain. My mother examined the area directly after I fell and was concerned that the incision might have slightly opened.
The surgeon was unable to see me on August 2 due to illness she was experiencing. However, the nurse encouraged me to come to the office yesterday morning in order to evaluate the potential set-back. She examined the wound and determined that a portion of the incision has indeed opened. This was disappointing and results in some adjustments in the packing process that initially make things a little more uncomfortable. We have another scheduled appointment with the surgeon on Thursday, August 9. Please pray with us as we deal with this new situation.
Classes at Texas Woman's University in Denton begin for me on August 27th. We are considering contacting the Health Center on campus, as it is likely that I will have to continue packing the wound for some time. Please join us in praying that the wound will heal well and swiftly. Also, pray that my transition to school will go smoothly.
Thanks again,
Morelle Cummins"
Thursday, August 2, 2012
My Journey with a Pilonidal Cyst
Many of you reading this blog will
have known that I recently have experienced some health concerns. However, I
decided to create a post that chronicles my experience with my pilonidal cyst.
Below are the paragraphs that were included in my family's June 2012 newsletter:
"On June 9, Morelle injured
her lower back at her part-time job at an assisted living home. By the night of
June 11, she was in extreme pain and had made a chiropractor appointment. The
following morning at 4:30 AM, she came into our bedroom feeling nauseous, went
into our bathroom, and passed out. When Cory found her, she was not
breathing. We immediately began to try to rouse her but she was
unresponsive. Julie called 911 and soon after Morelle began to breathe again
but was very slow in responding. When the paramedics came, they checked
her vitals and soon believed that she was okay. After some time, they
recommended that she be taken to our family doctor and within four hours we
were in his office. She was diagnosed with severe low back pain and given
medicine to relieve the pain and nausea. The next two days she went to the
chiropractor for adjustments and seemed to be improving but began to get worse
later in the week. Bruising and swelling developed on her low back and by June
16 she was again in extreme pain. We took her to an urgent care where she
was diagnosed with a pilonidal cyst. After treating this area with a heat
compress, significant fluid buildup drained for several days. As of this writing,
she is continuing to improve but will need to have this cyst surgically removed
or risk the possibility of having a reoccurrence. Please pray for Morelle as
we plan to schedule a surgery this next month prior to her fall schooling."
Following the mailing of our
newsletter, I received numerous emails from family and friends. Therefore, I
decided to send out email updates regarding how I was doing. The following
paragraphs are the two emails I sent.
*Email Number One*
"Hello everyone!
Due to our recent newletter
communication, I am sure many of you have heard about my recent health
problems. I have been improving some, although I still experience slight
discomfort when assuming a seated position, and was able to travel with my
family to Kankakee, Illinois, this past week. I appreciate all of our your
prayers and words of encouragement!
However, due to the nature of pilonidal
cysts, it was necessary for me to visit a surgeon and consider scheduling
surgery in order to have the cyst removed; pilonidal cysts have a tendency to
reoccur unless removed surgically. Yesterday, I visited Dr. Valerie Gorman of
Waxahachie Surgical Specialists, who listened to my situation and scheduled
surgery for Monday, July 16th, at 8:30 a.m. Please pray for me during
this time!
There are still many variables that
remain unknown in regards to the surgery. Dr. Gorman was unsure as to whether
the anesthesiologist would have to put me to sleep, though that is the common
practice in excision surgeries for pilonidal cysts. She was also uncertain as
to the width of the incision that would need to be made, as the surgeon can
only know once he or she begins surgery. Please pray for peace for myself
and my family as we face these and other unknowns. Dr. Gorman was fairly
confident however that the surgery would last for only an hour or two and, with
the time allotted in recovery, that I should be released by around 1:00 p.m.
the same day. Though the wound will be deep, it is hoped that sutures will be
sufficient in order to assist the healing process following the surgery. Dr.
Gorman did mention that often the sutures do not remain in place and one has to
resort to packing and dressing the wound - an uncomfortable and more painful
situation. Please pray that the wound will heal properly following surgery.
Recovery is expected to take at
least a month, but I am hoping to be well enough to begin my senior year at
Texas Woman's University beginning August 27th.
Myself and my family would
appreciate all of your prayers during this time. If you are interested in
learning more about pilonidal cysts, including causes, symptoms, and
prevention, visit this link - Pilonidal Support Alliance. I would also
be glad to share more information about my experience and the details regarding
my surgery.
Thank you!
Morelle Cummins
and the Cummins
Clan"
*Email Number Two*
"Hello everyone!
I wanted to be sure to give you an
update on how I am feeling following the excision surgery for my pilonidal cyst
that occurred this past Monday, June 16th. I appreciate all of your prayers and
words/letters/emails of encouragement! It was very apparent that God's presence
was with me and my family (my Grandparents from Alaska were there too) on the
day of the surgery. Every nurse and other health professional we encountered
while at the hospital was kind, compassionate, and did their best to assist me
in order to ensure my experience was the most pleasant it could possibly be.
The surgery itself only took thirty minutes to complete and I was released from
the hospital by around noon, much earlier than previously expected. The
anesthesiologist did decide to put me to sleep, however I experienced no
noticeable affects from this; praise the Lord! Dr. Gorman did inform my parents
however following the surgery that the cyst was slightly larger than initially
expected; she classified it as medium-sized. As a result, she had to pack, as
well as suture, the wound.
In the days since my surgery, I
have been slowly recovering. I thank the Lord that I am not in too much pain
however, my body continues to be weak. I also have been fighting nausea off and
on. Please pray that I will continue to gain strength and that the Lord will
give me patience during the recovery process.
Yesterday (Thursday), I had a
follow-up appointment with the nurse in order to have my packing changed for
the first time. I had previously been informed that this procedure might be uncomfortable
and it proved to be so. The packing in the wound is to be changed once a day
and, due to the position of the wound, my mother will take the majority of the
responsibility of doing this. We are not quite sure how long this task will
need to be done. Please pray for me and my family, especially my mother, as
we deal with this challenge.
I know that God will be with me and
my family in the coming weeks and I once again thank you for your prayers and
encouragement! I greatly appreciate them!
Morelle Cummins"
I plan to send a third email update
tomorrow and will post it on this blog when I do. Thanks to everyone for their
prayers and words of encouragement!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
My Novel - The Cry of Her Heart
Hello everyone! I apologize for the year-long hiatus, however I hope to be better in writing and publishing blog posts in the next few months. In fact, I plan to publish another post within the next day or so detailing my experience with my pilonidal cyst and the necessary excision surgery!
However, I first wanted to take the time to inform you about a novel on which I recently have been diligently working. I began it approximately three years ago after seeing a moving and inspiring illustration in the Children's Illustrated Classics version of The Three Musketeers. Perhaps a humble beginning, but I am proud of the story plot and the chapters I have written so far! Below I have included a synopsis of my novel titled, The Cry of Her Heart:
Nathaniel was a young man given the responsibility of evicting a woman from her home. He never expected how it would affect his future... Vianna was a woman blessed with love for her son. She never could have imagined the challenges she would face when she opened her door to a stranger... He was a man of wealth and she was a woman of poverty. They both had hidden pasts and possessed secret stories. Yet, when thrown together under unusual circumstances, they find themselves bound by their faith and love for each other.
It is every author's dream to have his or her work read by others and eventually published. My desires are not any different and when I learned about Wattpad.com I was extremely excited! Wattpad provides an opportunity for unpublished authors to post their works on the internet, allowing these novels, short stories, and poetry to be critiqued and read by individuals worldwide. Some works receive several million reads, comments, and votes. My novel has not achieved quite as much acclaim, however in just about two months I have received over 900 reads! It is very exciting to say the least... :)
*I must comment that there are works posted on Wattpad that may contain inappropriate language or themes. Thus, caution and personal convictions/views should be used when determining which works are appropriate to view and read.*
Anyway, I would feel honored to share my novel with those of you who read this blog. I also would greatly appreciate your comments and hopefully your support as well! Therefore, I am including a link below and I urge all of you to take a moment to read my work! You may have to create an account in order to post a comment on Wattpad, however I would love it if you would at least post a comment or critique on this blog regarding your thoughts on my novel! Thank you in advance!
<Click here to read my novel - The Cry of Her Heart>
However, I first wanted to take the time to inform you about a novel on which I recently have been diligently working. I began it approximately three years ago after seeing a moving and inspiring illustration in the Children's Illustrated Classics version of The Three Musketeers. Perhaps a humble beginning, but I am proud of the story plot and the chapters I have written so far! Below I have included a synopsis of my novel titled, The Cry of Her Heart:
Nathaniel was a young man given the responsibility of evicting a woman from her home. He never expected how it would affect his future... Vianna was a woman blessed with love for her son. She never could have imagined the challenges she would face when she opened her door to a stranger... He was a man of wealth and she was a woman of poverty. They both had hidden pasts and possessed secret stories. Yet, when thrown together under unusual circumstances, they find themselves bound by their faith and love for each other.
It is every author's dream to have his or her work read by others and eventually published. My desires are not any different and when I learned about Wattpad.com I was extremely excited! Wattpad provides an opportunity for unpublished authors to post their works on the internet, allowing these novels, short stories, and poetry to be critiqued and read by individuals worldwide. Some works receive several million reads, comments, and votes. My novel has not achieved quite as much acclaim, however in just about two months I have received over 900 reads! It is very exciting to say the least... :)
*I must comment that there are works posted on Wattpad that may contain inappropriate language or themes. Thus, caution and personal convictions/views should be used when determining which works are appropriate to view and read.*
Anyway, I would feel honored to share my novel with those of you who read this blog. I also would greatly appreciate your comments and hopefully your support as well! Therefore, I am including a link below and I urge all of you to take a moment to read my work! You may have to create an account in order to post a comment on Wattpad, however I would love it if you would at least post a comment or critique on this blog regarding your thoughts on my novel! Thank you in advance!
<Click here to read my novel - The Cry of Her Heart>
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