My Journey and Life with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

On to the next one.

2013-02-24T12:34:00.002-05:00

I can't believe its been so long since I last posted...

Life happens.

I've been on quite the journey for health and wellness over the last year or two after my EDS diagnosis and getting pretty sick.

I am starting a new phase and a new blog.

I wanted to send everyone here the link for it...its actually an old one I used to have but I have re-vamped it to hold information pertaining to health/wellness and how energy has an effect on our body! I have found many things that seem to help with my EDS symptoms, and I am Still very passionate about raising awareness about EMFs).

Check it out and follow it here:

http://missioninvisible.blogspot.com/

Thank you everyone for your support!

"Can't." Never could....

2012-02-23T09:05:00.000-05:00

"Can't" Never could.

How do you like that double negative??? Sounds funny but if you think about it, its very very true. I CAN'T DO ____. Well, with that attitude, you will never be able to do it...

Its so easy to get down about something we have going on in our lives...maybe its money, relationships, jobs, spiritual journey, willpower, etc. These things we face everyday all can add up at times, and begin to jade our perspective on what we are capable of in the long run. Trust me, I know from personal experience...its very easy to get down when you keep getting "kicked" over and over again...and NOTHING seems to go right.

When we tell ourselves something over and over and over, we begin to believe it. "I can't get that job, I can't win this race, I can't set a good example, I can't change the way I live...I'm not good enough, I'm not pretty enough, I'm not smart enough. Well, your right. With that attitude, nothing will be accomplished. Negative thoughts lead to negative outlooks on life...and nobody likes a party pooper :)

It is very, very, hard at times, especially dealing with physical problems, to tell yourself that you can do something or that you have to "stay positive". Sometimes you just want to smack people in the face who tell you something "isn't a big deal" or that you can do something, when you know you physically can't...what you can do is tell yourself everyday that you are worth it and you try your best at everything you do...that way, in the end, you will know you at least tried and gave it your all.

I never in a million years thought I would be where I am right now. Even a year ago, I thought I would be sick and potentially disabled for the rest of my life. I was determined that this was not going to be the way it all "ended" http://edsshegetitfromhermomma.blogspot.com/2010/10/well-walk-this-road-together-through.html or at least that's what I thought at the time...

I was determined to find an answer. Many people told me I was wrong, how could I know these things? how could I find an answer, when researchers and doctors can't? Well, walk a day in my shoes and you can feel on a very physical level why I know that EMFs, and radiation from X-rays effect me...this is something doctors can't feel. I told myself I couldn't be right, and maybe I'm not, but I'm never going to give up the search. I am much, much better physically now because of some of the research I have done...so even if some see it as being in vain, I will NEVER regret what I have learned, or change the way I eat/live, now that I know what seems to effect/"set" my symptoms off.

Its at the darkest hour that we decide to change the way we live. Can't never could...

I am very thankful for all of my family and friends who have been with me along this roller-coaster I've called "life" for the last few years...but hey, we have to get busy living, or get busy dying? right? So never give up hope that your life, and the way you live has a purpose.

We are all here for a reason, never stop searching till you find that calling, because when you do, nothing else matters. Passion is the driving force for many great accomplishments...so live your life with passion and know that everything really does happen for a reason. Some of us just stop searching when things don't always go as "we" planned! It's the ones who stick it out that make changes...never stop searching, never give up hope, for you never know what tomorrow might bring :)

Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Steve Jobs, US computer engineer & industrialist

Heart-to-Heart Health

2012-02-08T12:38:00.000-05:00

The human heart feels things the eyes cannot see, and knows what the mind cannot understand.
-- Robert Vallett --

Did you know that the human heart has brain cells in it? http://www.therealessentials.com/followyourheart.html

Our heart communicates with our brain. How cool is that? If you ever have had a broken heart, you know the feeling of deep sadness and emotional turmoil you can go through as you deal with the breakup mentally and emotionally, you can actually feel like you are hurting from someone "breaking" your heart.

So...what does this mean?

Researchers at the HeartMath institute (http://www.glcoherence.org/monitoring-system/about-system.html) have measured heart rhythms of groups of individuals where one person (aware) consciously tries to send love and healing vibrations to others in the group (unaware of the "sending"). They have measured noticeable "matching" of EKGs -heart rhythms among the group, of the people unaware of the sending, to the person consciously sending healing and love to the hearts of the others. We all have experienced this on some level as some people make us feel good and others "drain" the energy completely out of us. The Pyramids at Giza have even been shown to mimic the rhythm of a newborn heartbeat http://www.humanresonance.org/.

Heart health on a mental level (because of the little brain cells) and physiological level is very important (make sure to eat your veggies, and keep your cardio levels in check!). Over the last few weeks, I have struggled some with what direction I want to go in my life. Surgery is over, I'm in the end of the recovery phases and I'm ready to get things moving! In the last week or so, I have been reminded how important overall mental health is for our bodies. Keeping a positive attitude is critical, especially when going through tough times. Those stupid cliches end up being true about the glass always being half full instead of half empty...just thinking positive thoughts can lift your spirits and those of the people around you.

I notice when I am happy and things are going well, I literally feel better...and when things aren't, it seems harder to feel as well physically. I think people with EDS and other chronic pain disorders understand pain and are actually more empathetic with those in their surroundings, because they know what its like to struggle to keep a balance between the "good" days and "bad" days while also keeping a positive attitude and focus on their daily activities. This is why the worrying and stress 24/7 is NOT healthy. I have had that reminder recently!

Makes sure to take some "me" time for yourself. Meditate, watch a funny movie, hang out with friends that are a good influence on you, take TIME to enjoy the little things in life. It will help you much more than you could ever imagine!! :) We all like a good laugh and have always heard that 'laughter is the best medicine!"

I prayed for change...so I changed my mind...

2011-12-30T11:22:00.001-05:00

“I prayed for change, so I changed my mind.
I prayed for guidance and learned to trust myself.
I prayed for happiness and realized I am not my ego.
I prayed for peace and learned to accept others unconditionally.
I prayed for abundance and realized my doubt kept it out.
I prayed for wealth and realized it is my health.
I prayed for a miracle and realized I am the miracle.
I prayed for a soul mate and realized I am the One.
I prayed for love and realized it’s always knocking, but I have to allow it in.”

- Jackson Kiddard

So another years has passed...can you believe it??? We are coming up on 2012...thanks for all of you who visit occasionally and read my rants :)

This year has by far had the biggest ups and downs I could ever have imagined. As I was going through some of my old blog posts from late 2010, early 2011, I can really see how far I have come and how much I have grown physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have been very blessed this past year. Not many people would say that they are happy for the pain that they go through...and really it is hard to say this, but I am very blessed to have come up with a treatment for EDS and potentially other disorders as well.

February-July of this past year (2011) was very hard for me...what am I doing with my life? Why am I so sick all of the sudden? Should I go through with my back surgery, AGAIN? How am I going to work if I am going to have this for the rest of my life, I'm only 25 and I had all of the extra schooling to get attend Doctorate of Physical Therapy School? I had a few large mental breakdowns where I just prayed and asked God to show me why? why me? It just didn't seem fair...I had always "done the right thing," exercised, loved others, gave of my all....Well, God had a plan all along. He blessed me with amazing knowledge and severe determination to grasp many scientific subjects (biology, anatomy, physics, and ultimately metaphysics - supercool stuff). I am not trying to offend anyone or step on any particular religion by talking about "God," so many people try to be politically correct and not talk about religion, but in all truths it explains why we are the way we are today. I have a much bigger picture of what/who God is now...and nothing will shake this belief. I might not act the way most "Christians" are "supposed" to act, and will snap a witty/sarcastic comment at the drop of a hat, while enjoying a margarita...but I know who my Creator is and how by helping educate and show others His love for us through lively a healthy and happy life...

God blessed me with an ability to connect ideas (from astrology/electromagnetic fields/animal migration/you name it), that I (as well as others with EDS) have been seen or been exposed to in order to show how our environment really can control our genetic expression of various traits, both good and bad. I still have my ups and downs, but overall I feel like a new person. Our bodies really are temples...if we put bad vibrations/matter into our body (toxic chemicals/man made unnatural products) into our body, it is going to change the way our meridians and ultimately our DNA is expressed. This is why meditation and focusing on our bodies zero point energy field is so important. This little biological research journey I started after blistering after a CT scan last October 2010, ultimately lead me to a journey into the bodies bioenergy field and ultimately the way sacred geometry works within and around our bodies....Energy is everything. Everything. (find the blog energy matters).

The year 2012 will be great...I can feel it with every part of my body. They say everything happens for a reason. It does...whether you see it now, or 20 years from now...there is a unique purpose for everything in your life. So live it to the fullest and be thankful for all you have been given!

Hope everyone has a blessed New Year! :)

"This Christmas..."

2011-12-19T15:38:00.000-05:00

I reposted my Energy Matters because I think some people might noticing some increasing energies soon...

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays its easy to forget to sit back and relax. Unfortunately, the holidays for many, can be some of the most stressful times of the year.

This time last year, I was very very sick. The EDS symptoms were getting to a point of no return, and I had just started to dig into finding an answer to EDS. I was very down at Christmas and I forgot the true meaning of it all. As I have begun healing at a really rapid rate (due to some awesome energy therapies/detox baths I use) I can see what I really have been given.

I would not take back a day of the pain and mental suffering/lack of understanding of what was going on in my body. I am so blessed now to experience feeling good, really good. I have an amazing family, group of friends, and things are just starting to open up for me...none of this was in vain. God had a plan for it all and I thank Him everyday for the blessings He has given me. I have not thought once about what "I was getting" for Christmas. I've been given the greatest gift of all, a life free of pain (most of the time). When you are going through the tough times whether emotional or physical, its important to remember we always have God to help us through the hard times.

Prayer is extremely powerful....to whomever you serve, just remember to pray...and love, for the greatest gift is that of love and acceptance of others for who they are and remembering how God created them as well...negative energies/actions only cause pain for others, eventually leading back to you...so I urge you this Christmas to remember the greatest gift of all...LIFE!! We should be happen for how amazing this world is, and the potential humanity has to come together and help co-create a world of peace :)

Energy Matters.

2011-12-10T15:59:00.001-05:00

I haven't written in a while. I am actually going to be starting a blog at my new job. I work at an alternative medicine spa/holistic therapy center now since my back surgery recovery has gone well. I also have not updated my website in a while. There are a few reasons for both of these

been super busy
been on a little journey of energy exploration to try to find some answers since I am so EMF sensitive, I've tried to stay away from computers as much

This is going to be a very different post from what I've had in the past, but hang with me over the next couple of posts as I try to explain something, and remember, this is just my OPINION according to what I have personally experienced and seen in my body. I wanted to get some people thinking a little bit about what they personally experience as well...

Have you ever been in a room with someone that just “sucked the life out of you”? Where you can't figure out what it is but being around that person or environment just makes you uncomfortable. Do you have a tendency to feel emotions as other people feel them even if they aren't expressing them? For example you can tell when a friend is upset even if they put on a happy face and fake it. We can sense their energy good/bad/happy/sad/loving/hateful. Energy is expressed in the body through emotions that can lead to hormone production (cortisol for stress, and good endorphins for happiness).

I am healing at very fast rates because of some of the therapies I have been using that pertain to energy flow within the body and toxic buildup. I'm not sure how many of you know much about Hypermobility EDS, but there has not been a gene identified for the mutation that many of us hypothetically carry. Please note that all of this is just MY take on the situation, it is not in any way a diagnosis or verification of what I am about to talk about....read the theory here http://www.missioninvisible.com/

To begin with, many people don't understand what “energy” is in the alternative medicine field. Many just think its Duke Power down the road and the electrical outlets in our house. Energy is everything, wind can generate it, our bodies can generate it and our minds can generate it. Its in the food we eat and it makes up all matter (yes even things that aren't moving have a potential energy). Atoms moving generates energy in our bodies and in our environment. We are all made of vibrations, and our body is composed of many things from the earth, thus the need to eat healthy foods to sustain a healthy lifestyle and body.

Our DNA is extremely electrically conductive (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v398/n6726/abs/398407a0.html). We only use 10% of our DNA and the rest of DNA is considered “junk”. History and many prophets predict that our DNA will change back to its original state as it was at the beginning of creation (Google Christ Consciousness and DNA transformation) ....We all know that we are in very exciting and changing times. We have seen evolution within species take place over the years...people are taller and stronger than they ever used to be. The prophecies predicted about our DNA show that we are supposed to change back to the original state...

Most people are so disconnected with the earth, and I mean literally (as in going barefoot to take in earths vibrations and also ground ourselves from damaging EMFs and static that we build up in our system throughout the day) and figuratively, as in the fact that we disrepect mother nature and her power, leading to bad energies and toxic air. If EMFs can change DNA how could the Sun Moon Earth magnetic field NOT have a huge influence on us? Couple the earths magnetic field along with the 100s of others we are bombarded with every day and you get one VERY energetic body. Its what we do with this energy that will make a difference...remember as Einstein said, energy can never be created OR destroyed, only transformed.

http://www.lunarplanner.com/Harmonics/planetary-harmonics.html

http://preventdisease.com/news/11/022811_solar_activity_consciousness.shtml

Autism, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Cancer, etc. all are unexplained illnesses and diseases. Many of the symptoms of some of these disorders overlap with EDS. There are genes identified with some of them, but they aren't always mutated or different in some of the patients. My theory is that our bodies are trying to change with mother nature, but the toxic overload from man-made chemicals messes up our bodies vibrations and natural rhythms, thus preventing the natural changes to take place in the body. Many ancient civilizations felt these energies and worked with them to help heal the body. Did you know that our meridians and many nerves are attached in our teeth/mouth, so whatever we eat potentially could have an effect on that particular part of the body connected with those nerves (http://www.oasisadvancedwellness.com/tools/tooth-chart.html) ? Homeopathic/energy medicine is exploding into our culture...along with “green/organic” products. I can't stress enough with how important it is to eat natural foods (and yes I realize how expensive it can be at times).

If energy flows throughout our body through the meridians and chakras, and there is some type of unknown/unnatural substance blocking that energy flow, could it change the vibration of that particular system, either stopping it completely or altering the energies waveform? Who knows? We are entering a time where great amounts of cosmic/gamma energy is hitting us from the universe, it can be very damaging if we aren't balanced...

All I know is that through researching on EMFs and toxins, changing my diet, soaking in a salt bath I came up with, using grounding cords, and starting an energy therapy program... I am better from just using a combination of things from mother nature. I don't dislocate like I used to, my scars are almost gone that I have had since I was a little kid, I'm off all medications, my brain fog has gone away, and I feel like a new person. I have sensations in my nervous system that I have never experienced before...I can't stress enough the importance of changing your diet and reducing EMF exposure (hard to avoid but there are many great things that can help protect you from them). Also, I can not speak highly enough about detox foot baths (make sure the spa you go to has a legit machine). THINK about it. We always detox our digestive system, we never detox our nervous system. Man-made chemicals running along the myelin sheath in our nervous system could cause all types of damage to energy flow and DNA transition in our body, thus cutting off energy flow completely at times. Many of our nerves end in our hands and feet...anything we put on our body has the potential of entering that area and causing damage if the body's energy is not balanced...one way to help balance that energy is to get rid of toxic substances (aka bad unknown vibrations).

We start exposing our bodies to chemicals at a very young age. They are almost impossible to avoid. Cleansing out our system will help to accelerate any healing and changes that will take place over the next few years. To some of you this will all be fluff and “New Age” but I urge you to explore the ideas yourself. You might stumble across more than you could ever imagine.

Here are some links to more information about various topics:

Can Human Sense the Earths Magnetism - http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2011/07/28/can-humans-sense-the-earths-magnetism/

DNA Repair Frequencies

http://thecriticalthinker.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/the-sound-for-dna-repair-frequency-528-hz/

Signs and Symptoms of experiencing higher energies http://indigolifecenter.wordpress.com/2008/01/31/signs-and-symptoms-of-experiencing-higher-energies/

The pineal gland senses EMFs as light. The pineal gland is responsible for melatonin production in the body, the chemical that helps us to sleep and repair any damage in the body done through the day. People went to bed much sooner before we had electricity. Most people today are around artificial light all of the time and into the late hours of the night. This then reduces melatonin production by the pineal gland. Also, on top of that, flouride in our water calcifies the pineal gland (http://www.naturalnews.com/026364_fluoride_pineal_gland_sodium.html). Many religions see the pineal gland as a way to connect to the third eye for communication with God and the universe (aka connection with the earths rhythms/magnetic field). If this gland isn't functioning properly it can lead to all types of disease after toxic exposure.

Health is not simply the absence of sickness. - Hannah Green

2011-11-17T13:07:00.002-05:00

As most of you know I have kind of tailored my blog to a more nutrition/energy medicine blog since I've gotten so in depth into the research on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, radiation, and EMF exposure. Keeping our bodies strong after various surgeries and stressful life-events is very important.

Here is an article I read by Melanie Bowen, an awareness advocate for natural health and holistic therapies for cancer patients. You will often find her highlighting the great benefits of different nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those with illness in her efforts to increase attentiveness and responsiveness on like topics.

The Value of Nutrition for Patient Recovery

Proper diet and nutrition can be a valuable tool when recovering from a serious illness. While it's important to follow a medically supervised treatment plan, many foods and supplements can be a beneficial part of a recovery plan. Before starting any diet or supplement, always talk to your doctor or physician.

Many diseases are preventable with proper diet and exercise. Diseases like diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease are often caused by excessive calorie intake, poor nutritional quality of food, and a sedentary lifestyle. In addition, many foods can increase one's risk of cancer. Processed meats like hot dogs contain nitrites, a common preservative. When you can, go fresh and keep healthy habits in mind.

Patients recovering from cancers like mesothelioma should follow a healthy eating. Avoid excessive consumption of empty carbohydrates, commonly found in foods like potatoes, white bread, milkshakes, cola, and rice. Concentrate on complex carbohydrates, which take the body a longer time to absorb. Overall wellness and extending a stated life expectancy should be goals for those with terminal illnesses. There is always hope on the path to recovery—start with the things that you can manipulate such as nutrition and diet. In addition to providing lasting energy, complex carbohydrates are usually good sources of fiber. Some excellent foods with complex carbohydrates include steel cut oats, beans, lentils, and whole grain.

While meat and cheese aren't harmful in moderation, it's important to watch one's intake. Avoid red meats like beef, and avoid meats high in calories and fat. Chicken, fish, and pork can be a healthy source of protein in moderation. For vegetarians, it's possible to replace meat consumption with an alternate protein source. There are many soybean products that can be as a meat alternative.

It's also important to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Try to buy organic produce, if possible. Avoid hydrogenated fats, commonly found in cheaper peanut butter, cookies, and other junk food. It's also important to provide the body with any additional nutrients needed during recovery.

While it's essential to check with a doctor before taking any supplements, some multivitamins can be beneficial as part of a treatment program. A whole-food multivitamin is made from real foods, not industrially processed vitamins. It provides the body a natural source of nutrients. In addition, some supplements can be beneficial in treating the symptoms of autoimmune disorders. Diseases like thyroiditis and rheumatoid arthritis can benefit from an omega-3 supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids can help improve joint mobility, reduce pain, and help prevent inflammation. It can improve many common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, under a doctor's guidance. Many of the symptoms of thyroiditis like anxiety and depression can be relieved through an omega-3 supplement too. But remember to always talk to your doctor before starting any diet or supplement.

End of Article. Link to her blog http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/

As you can see, we can all learn from each other. Thyroid problems, as mentioned at the end of the article, can have a huge impact on MANY systems of the body, especially during recovery. I have had thyroid problems in the past, they still flare up sometimes but taking supplements has definitely helped to regulate some of my problems. Not all supplements are the same either, so make sure to do your research. A gentleman once told me, if you are at a grocery store or somewhere similiar, get the supplement brand that has the most to lose if anything was ever claimed against their product. They will have more research and information backing all of their products because they have more to lose if someone claimed their multi-vitamin did not give them the same results as it claims...and also remember, the FDA does not have to certify many organic products, so definitely do your research and ask your doctor before you take anything!

Hope everyone has a blessed day!

EMF Information

2011-11-14T14:56:00.001-05:00

While we all know I have my own little theory about EMFs, and how damaging they can be to our body, I just want to revisit some of the articles and some of the theory since its been so long since I've posted about the EMF/Health side of the story (this can especially relate to those with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome due to how electrically sensitive I think we tend to be based on radiation exposure/genes).... here. Also, if you have read theory and know much about the pineal gland, you will definitely be interested in this video/article on the pineal gland and EMF exposure. http://dedroidify.blogspot.com/2008/10/cell-phones-influence-pineal-gland.html

Chart from Dr. Mercola's website here.

Our bodies are bioenergetic fields...interacting with everyone and everything around us. We take in energy/vibrations (try not to think of vibration as you normally view an object vibrating, think about interaction and various wavelengths for different types of matter) from the environment and GIVE OFF energy as well, we just get to determine what kind of energy we choose to give off based on our emotions/physical health. Yet, researchers are starting to see some damaging results from various elerctromagnetic fields in our environment.

Think about how you shock yourself getting out of a car the imbalance of static buildup between your nervous system and the now turned off (grounded) car causes an electric current per se to flow between you and the car thus creating a spark/shock when you touch your car...thus getting rid of your static charge.

Here are a couple of links to help show that researchers really are starting to see some significant findings in studies done on cell phone, computer, wireless radiation and our health.

Take a look at what just 15 minutes of talking on the phone can cause you...

http://swiftfire.org/Images/cell-phone-radiation.jpg

Here are some articles:

What is the real cancer threat from cell phones?

Cordless phones trigger heart beat abnormalities

Dirty Electricity

I use the EMF protectors from this company - VibesUP

They also have computer lap desks that have the protective coating on them along with many other household items!

While taking charge and educating yourself is very important nowadays, protecting yourself is even more important. Wireless technology is hard to avoid, I'm the first one to say that going without a cell phone would be almost impossible in order to communicate in the world today...HOWEVER, we can do things to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Google EMF protection and there are all kinds of great products out there on the web (especially Earthing/Barefoot connections). I work a lot with grounding/earth natural rhythms and it has been a complete lifesaver for me!

http://earthinginstitute.net/index.php/research (products treat EMF overexposure) Make sure to check out their research studies on benefits of grounding...

Blinded by the lighttt....

2011-11-07T10:09:00.000-05:00

Some of you know, some of you who occasionally read by blog don't know, how much I love to track solar activity. I have been doing this for almost a year now. A friend of the family who has EDS was the one to bring it up to me and so I started tracking how I felt for a couple of weeks, and then would go onto the swpc.noaa.gov website http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/alerts/archive.html and see if we had any solar activty during the times when I would feel very anxious/bloodpressure drop/intense migraine onset. Turns out, around 70% of the time when I would have sudden onset of these symptoms, we would have had a change in the amount of radiation from the Sun. Also, in looking in my medical history I always had more doctors visits during/on days of high activity.

This is why I really started to get more into research about our DNA and how light/energy can have an effect on how it is expressed. Thus the EMF/X-ray research about the pineal gland I had been doing for a couple of months started to make sense and connect to how our bodies are trying to change, but because of toxic overload it is virtually impossible (they have never found a gene for Hypermobility type EDS). This toxic overload leads to improper gene expression. This has an even greater impact on us as solar activity has increased in the last two months or so, and ESPECIALLY in the last few weeks http://www.solarham.com/. Take a look at some studies done on some gene expression in animals.

Primeval Code(less than 50% of article)
[link to www.urzeit-code.com]

In laboratory experiments the researchers there Dr. Guido Ebner and Heinz Schürch exposed cereal seeds and fish eggs to an "electrostatic field" – in other words, to a high voltage field, in which no current flows.

Unexpectedly primeval organisms grew out of these seeds and eggs: a fern that no botanist was able to identify; primeval corn with up to twelve ears per stalk; wheat that was ready to be harvested in just four to six weeks. And giant trout, extinct in Europe for 130 years, with so-called salmon hooks. It was as if these organisms accessed their own genetic memories on command in the electric field.

"Our experiments do not involve a mutation of the organism in question, which in the case of genetic engineering involves channelling an additional gene into the organism. No entirely new organism is created. In the electrostatic field, only the gene expression is altered – the retrieval of the existing gene."
If this is true, even though they haven't 100% scientifically proven in a lab, its almost hard to deny our environment around is is causing all kinds of damage to our DNA, as the energy flow is unnatural and not created from the earth. Our bodies electrical/nervous system can't handle these major amounts of energy hitting our bodies every day (an no you can't see it, its like an Xray). Grounding ourselves to get rid of excess static and also supplementing our bodies with critical salts and nutrients is so very important to give our bodies the access to much needed vitamins and minerals depleted after EMF exposure. Article on nutrients lost http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/acm.2010.0687 - news article from http://earthinginstitute.net/index.php/research.

I urge you to take the time to read into this and try to figure some things out on your own as well. Here is a link to some quotes from other people who have EDS who notice they are energy senstive http://www.missioninvisible.com/Interesting_Quotes_89ZB.html. No ammount of me writing will convince someone that this is true, unless they experience it and discover for themselves. Thus taking the time to concentrate and focus on looking at this genetic disorder from another perspective. Reading and educating themselves on the actual cellular processes instead of what the latest study on it has shown. We live and breathe it, just because a doctor doesn't understand it yet doesn't mean we can't start to try to make some changes in our lives and make sense of it all.

Can human collective emotion alter the earths magnetic field and rhythms? Some researchers seem to think so...

2011-11-03T13:46:00.000-04:00

Can the human collective emotion have an influence on the earths magnetic field and vibrations? Researchers for Global Coherence Initiative think they can. It started out with research in heart rhythms between individuals...can one person consciously connect and put their heart rhythms in sync with another without the other persons awareness? Their research and discoveries have even astounded some of the discoveries they have made...

Solar flares can influence the earths magnetic field. Here is a quote off of the website

"While it is not difficult to conceive that life-forms embedded in the earth’s magnetic fields could be affected by modulations in these fields, it is a more far-reaching proposition to suggest that the earth’s fields can be influenced or modulated by human emotions. Nevertheless, GCI researchers theorize that when large numbers of humans respond to a global event with a common emotional feeling, the collective response can affect the activity in the earth’s field. In cases where the event evokes negative responses, this could be thought of as a planetary stress wave, and in cases where a positive wave is created, it could create a global coherence wave. This perspective is supported by research at the Institute of HeartMath, which has shown that emotions not only create coherence or incoherence in our bodies, but, like radio waves, also radiate outward and are detected by the nervous systems of others in our environment.

It is now clear that our nervous systems detect these electromagnetic waves generated by others in our environment, but there is also evidence of a global effect when large numbers of people create similar outgoing waves. For example, research conducted by Roger Nelson and his team at Princeton University for the Global Consciousness Project utilized a worldwide network of random number generators. Their findings have provided convincing evidence that human consciousness and emotionality create or interact with a global field, which affect the randomness of these electronic devices. The largest change in the random number generators occurred during the terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Even more intriguing was the fact that the random number generators were significantly affected some four to five hours prior to the attack, suggesting a worldwide collective intuition about the impending event (see Figure 1). "

http://www.glcoherence.org/monitoring-system/about-system.html

So...here's the million dollar question...IF human emotions can lead to changes in the earths rhythms like HeartMaths research over the years has seen to prove (please please take the time to read their explanation it makes so much sense to a very personal/health level), how damaging can all of the negative emotions, hatred, religions tension be on the earths rhythms...throwing them out of sync...Vibrations of love and respect (as seen through some of the heart math research) can be measured in humans... The world as a whole has to have something large happen in order for it to wake up to the reality that we are all connected with each other in ways we can't even phathom...

Then...the only way to restore the damage is to work together as a universal consciousness to create change and a structure of love and respect for others no matter their age, race, sex, religion, etc...Love for one another and others rights might be one of the only ways to prevent the world from self destructing because of all of the bad vibrations we as a human collective.

Side note: The earths magnetic field has changed our DNA over thousands of years. Currently we only use 10% of our DNA...the other 90% or so is considered "junk" and not used for expression of other traits. As we begin to enter the photon belt in the galaxy we are going to havea great amount of energy sent to the earth, influencing everyone whether they are conscious of it or not. Its what we do with this energy that will determine the future. If energy can never be created or destroyed, only transformed, wouldn't it be our responsiblity to transfer that energy into positive/good vibrations through thoughts and actions?? Thus restoring the balance of the universe and giving ourselves the ability to consciously create a better future. This energy from the photon belt is also prophesied to help change our DNA back to its original 100% activated form, thus increasing all kinds of metaphysical abilities (as some people have started to see changes in their energy levels)...

With all of the toxins in our environment and bodies, this adds to the damage we are doing to the universe...Manmade chemicals are unnatural vibrations in our bodies, they alter the energy flow within our bodies thus mutating DNA and leading to many types of illnesses. Its when our bodies are clean and our nervous system (very electrical) is firing properly that we can heal our DNA to its original activated form. Over time as more and more people start to wake up to reality, they will realize their health and mental health is important for not only themselves but for collective humanity as a whole.

Our DNA is changing whether we like it or not, staying connected to the earth and her rhythms might be the only way we can start to better the world....and its the 99% that will have control over it (think about occupy movement, people are starting to "wake up"). Also, there is a great movie called the quickening). So, take off your shoes and go barefoot for a while, helping connect the circuit between yourself and the world (our bodies can act as batteries so we have to connect in order to start healing :) as cheesy as that sounds, sending good thoughts and waveforms out into the universe (google can the mind alter the outcome of an experiment)...

History always repeats itself. Going back to the stone ages might be the only way we can start over again...thus sending us back thousands of years in time where astronomy, natural cures, and belief in God are the only things they used to guide their thoughts and actions. Except, this time the past will hopefully be remembered so the same mistakes won't be made over again. Thus, joining the subconscious connection with the source/God/whomever you choose, and conscious collective knowledge that we really are all ONE.

2011-11-02T11:34:00.000-04:00

I know my last post could be potentially controvercial depending on your view on EDS and various disorders. I would like to provide some additional links to some websites that talk about our bodies bio-energetic field. This can relate to anyone...DNA has the ability, for a lack of better terminology, to switch "on/off" many times just from environmental exposure to various things. This is called "epigenetics" http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1952313,00.html.

We all have heard about meridians, chakras, accupressure, etc in the holistic medical field. Over the last few years, the earths vibrations have been speeding up. In order to stay healthy, we have to balance many aspects of our bodies energy field to be in sync with this increase in energy. Sometimes this can be extremely uncomfortable, we feel anxious for no reason, sweat like crazy at night after an energy release, and many more random/off symptoms that can go on within our body. Here is a link with some more symptoms. http://2012gregg.blogspot.com/2009/03/spiritual-awakening-symptoms-advice_23.html

Meditation is so very critical right now because of the calming effect it can have on your body, balancing the energies from solar flares, cell phones and basically everything we are around in daily lives. Yoga (although not always recommended for people with Hypermobility EDS) and various energy therapies can work wonders for balancing your bodies energy. Our pineal gland and the area around the crown chakra open up during meditation in order to help cleanse the body and restore it to a better "vibrational" state, where we are in sync with the world around us (this is why getting outside is very healing because we can connect with mother nature and her rhythms). This then gives our bodies time to heal and hopefully leads to better nutrient absorption and usage after we start to cleanse our bodies of bad energies and man made toxins.

Links:

Meditation: http://www.artofliving.org/healing-power-meditation

DNA activation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdGWI_WOUmA&feature=related

Earthing/Grounding yourself from damaging EMFs:
http://earthinginstitute.net/index.php/blog

Make sure you are getting outside and getting enough vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent among middle age adults today. It is critical for calcium absorption within the body. This leads to a very long cellular process in order to repicate DNA and cells, but the beginning of it starts with Vitamin D. Vitamin D is best absorbed when we are out in the sun. So get outside and move, its one of the best therapies out there (and go barefoot if you can)!

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. - George Bernard Shaw

2011-08-30T12:35:00.001-04:00

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."
— Oscar Wilde

What do you want to be when you grow up? We all have been asked this question over the years...I'm pretty sure over my lifetime I wanted to be an actress, a meteorologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist and the list could go on...if I had my choice I'd never have to "grow up." I would live a carefree life where my job was never a job in my eyes. I used to not be like this, trust me, you can ask my family and friends I used to be a plan every minute of your life person, but time changes things.

Here I am at 25...still not exactly knowing what I want to do with my life. I had every intention of going on to physical therapy school last year after graduating from UNC, but unfortunately that was not an option at the time after I was diagnosed with EDS. I am sitting here asking myself the same question again, now that my surgery is over and I am in the recovery process and starting to feeling better. Yet, this time that question has a much deeper meaning to me than it ever did before...of course I could get the normal 9-5 job that can get me by, but I want to do something more.

I have this deep calling to do something bigger and better. I am not sure how to do it or by what means I will be doing it with...I want to make a difference in others lives. Many people say this, but I truly mean it. I've been there in those lows where you don't know how it could get much worse, and the only thing you can do at the time is just breathe, hope, and pray that God has a bigger purpose for your suffering. You pray that He is just taking you through lives lessons much quicker than most people experience them. I want to use this experience to help others see the light at the end of the tunnel.

If we all had hearts like children...

So no, I don't know what I am going to do with the rest of my life. I'm 25, and many times this is frowned upon, but I refuse to be one of those people who settle for something just because it's a job. I've never been one to care much about having a lot of money, because I learned at an early age that money is not everything. I have the education and passion to do something great, its just finding my little niche that is the hard part. I also have to remind myself that it won't happen immediately, I really am only a few weeks post-op... but while I'm searching for the right thing to do, I'm going to enjoy life, because its way to short to stress about the small things.

I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else. ~Winston Churchill

2011-08-18T12:54:00.000-04:00

Attitude is everything. I never really thought about this much till recently after my surgery. There are all kinds of "self-help" books out there about how when we change our perspective it can really make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. I'm not too big on the self-help books, I just choose to live my life to the fullest...every. single. day.

I firmly believe in the "change your attitude" theory...life has many ups and downs. "Glass half-full or half-empty" is such a cliche, but in reality its true. Everything that happens in our lives has an influence on how we perceive ourselves and others. We can choose love, hate, anger, jealousy, basically any emotion, and let it decide how our day will go...if we always have a negative perspective on life, it will show in how we act and live.

Pain from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and other genetic/long-term disorders can wear down on our emotions. We can be up and then down in a few hours based on how we feel. It's hard to keep smiling when you hurt...you feel like no one understands and that it is just not fair, which is true, it isn't fair at all. To have everything taken from you at such a young age, or any age at all, just plain sucks (for lack of a better term). We just have to play the cards we've been dealt. I will say that most of the time when I am in pain I try not to let it show. I do this not because I'm ashamed to tell people about it, but because sometimes its brings others down with me. I am not saying to ignore your emotions/pain at all...sometimes they really do get the best of us, there is just a time a place for everything.

Finding a good friend to talk to is always the best therapy. It's sometimes good to get it all out, talk about it, and then try to move on...Turning the frown "up-side down" is really true...just smiling and talking with others (especially who have similar problems) about how we feel can really be the greatest therapy out there. It is very easy to say this in the times where life is going great, and EXTREMELY hard to say it when things aren't always going our way.


If we all had hearts like children...

Watch a funny movie, look at old pictures, do just about anything to get your mind in a better state and it really can help dull a lot of the pain signals our body sends out, just because of the endorphins released when we are happy and not stressed. There are tons of articles online about how stress can wear down on you physically.

I try not to take life to seriously...I love to laugh and I love to love. I love the life I've been given and I hope you do too, and as I've said before, I would not take back anything that has happened to me over the last year...its amazing how much more you appreciate the little things when you sit back and look at the amazing world around you. Life is so much bigger than ourselves, sometimes it just takes a little slap in the face to realize it :)

Life is what happens when your too busy planning...

2011-08-14T11:36:00.000-04:00

Wow! What a year...August 14, 2010 was the day I was grocery shopping and my hip gave out on me for the first time. I can remember walking out of the store, calling my uncle (who actually works with people who have EDS) and asking if he thought I should go back to the genetic doctor, as many of my symptoms had really started to progress....I had no idea it would change the course of my life.

My "official" diagnosis was on September 9, 2010. I had done all of the research and actually met with another family who had an EDS history, before I went to meet with my genetic doctor again...its amazing how much has happened in the last year. From the non-profit I established and attempted to move forward with (and would one day love to continue with the planning), to the incredible things we are doing in the research field on EDS, it has been a roller coaster of happiness and pain. Thankfully, I finally hope to have some relief from my back pain, which has by far been the most debilitating part of all of this...

I want to thank everyone who has been there for me over the last year. I know I am sometimes like a bottle-rocket ready to explode, but its only because sometimes the pain gets the best of me, or some things just aren't going right. I am definitely a much stronger person now emotionally because I have had such amazing friends and family. There is a blog post I will NEVER forget writing and it pretty much expresses how our lives can be like books. Each chapter is a new beginning...sometimes happy, sometimes sad, and sometimes so crazy we don't even know how to feel about it.

One year ago today started a new chapter in my life, and I hope since my back surgery is over, this will be the beginning to a better, and even happier chapter...and if its not, then I know I will still have the amazing support I've had over the last year. You can't always plan for these types of major life changes...I never IN A MILLION YEARS would have thought I would be where I am today, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I have a much larger appreciation for everything and everyone in my life. I just want to thank you and let you know that I love you guys!

Post-op Update

2011-08-06T11:44:00.000-04:00

One week post-op...

Well, I've been pleasantly surprised. I did not really know what to expect in the outcome of my surgery. I was scared and nervous going into it...and as they said "start counting down from 100", I got to 99, and then woke up a few hours later.

Recovery days in the hospital were not too bad, I had an allergic reaction to the medicine they give you to come out of the anesthesia, and ended up looking like the guy in Hitch. Other then that though, the surgery went smoothly. The nurses were great and I was only in there 3.5 days instead of the 5-7 days they had estimated in the beginning. That was definitely a blessing! I have a little bear that has been my "mascot" over the years of me being sick and in and out of the hospital....the nurses doctored him up and gave him some of the accessories I had while in the hospital. Here is a picture:)

I have been at home now a fews days. Each day gets a little easier...I still have a lot of swelling, but moving around and getting up and down is getting much, much easier. Standing isn't even as hard as I thought it would be in the beginning. They gave me two weeks of no lifting, bending, driving, etc. but I think after I am released I will be able to start physical therapy and start building up my strength again.

Its crazy to think that I've waited years, or so it seems, to have this done, and it finally is complete. I can start looking forward to what the future holds. I am very excited and hope that my recovery continues to go as well as it has so far.

Thank you to all my family and friends for support!

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --A. Einstein

2011-07-28T12:35:00.001-04:00

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY...


Right after surgery 2001

Tomorrow will by far be the first day of the rest of my life. I will finally be able to move on from the pain I have had for the last few years, that has literally controlled my every move. Obviously, the pain will not go away immediately, because I will have a decent amount of time to recover, but I refuse to look back....

This is kind of a bittersweet moment in my life. I have been in so much pain the last two years, that I know this is the right thing for me to do. Yet, with any surgery as invasive as this, there are hesitations, questions that are still unanswered, and emotions that are hard to explain.

I have been hoping and praying very hard that this will be the answer to my back pain. Hopefully, there will be no nerve damage from where the rods are in my back...that would mean taking them out wouldn't do any good, but I know I can't let myself think this way.

I have been very blessed over the last few months with a massive amount of family and friend support. Online support has been amazing as well. Its incredible how awesome it is to talk to people online who have EDS and can relate. No one in my family has it, even though its genetic, I guess I was one of the lucky ones who has the mutation. I say lucky because sometimes I feel like its a blessing in disguise.


My awesome girlfriends, I love you guys!

This time last year I had not been diagnosed yet (in my blog posts from August 2010 I didn't have the diagnosis yet). Let me tell you how much of my life has been put into perspective. Things I used to think were REALLY important, are not that important any more... At the age of 24, I basically had everything taken from me. People don't realize how blessed they are to have good health, unless they have it taken from them, and I had no control over how mine was taken from me. I don't take things for granted like I used to. It has truly been one of the most humbling experiences in my life, but I don't think I would take any of it back...as odd as it is to say that, I know that God has a great purpose for me in this life and I am hoping to use this "curse" as a way to help others who are dealing with pain.

So as I go into the hospital tomorrow I will keep my head held high and know that I have been waiting for this for a long time. When its all said and done, I have an awesome future ahead of me, working with people like me to find some answers. Nothing can be more rewarding than putting a smile on another person's face, and hopefully one day the smiles will remain permanent because their pain is gone.

Feel free to e-mail me Carlyh86@gmail.com or send me a message on Facebook, I'm going to be bored in the hospital :) I will update after surgery!

Update

2011-06-21T18:58:00.000-04:00

Its been a while since I've written, I feel like I've said that for the last few posts...anyways here is what's been going on...

I am finally going to have surgery to have my Harrington Rods taken out! Amen! It was a big decision I've been going back and forth with...but as the weather has continued to go up at and down I feel like I'm the 80 year old lady complaining about her arthritis in her body. The pressure changes really seem to make you hurt more! Anyways, pre-op is July 11, surgery scheduled July 22...but I'm on the "on call" list so probably will end up going sooner!

I can't explain what a relief this will be...I haven't really been able to work in the last 5 or 6 months because of all of this, but hopefully after the rods are removed I can manage all of my other EDS symptoms and get back to working!!

Research (most of you know I am doing a research project on EDS, if not check out my website Missioninvisible.com)

I have discovered some really awesome alternative medicine treatments though that really seem to help. They help me manage all of the other EDS symptoms very well and they are all 100% natural. I am taking a ton of supplements, but I can definitely tell a difference in how I feel when I take them vs when I don't take them (ie. heart races, blood pressure and sugar way low, tremors are much worse, skin takes longer to heal, etc.). If you have any questions about what I do I can e-mail it to you.

I hope everyone who reads this has had a great summer so far, get outside and get some Vitamin D! I am going to try to start blogging again, its just been a hectic couple of months so hang with me while I'm going through all these transitions...

Summertime and the livin's easy

2011-05-20T13:09:00.000-04:00

Wow! I can't believe its been almost a month since my last post. I've been pretty busy. I went to the beach a week or so ago and its AMAZING how much better I feel when I am there, and the instant tan I get is pretty nice as well. Mys sister always hates me because in a few days I have a caramel glow and she is still pastey (but I just have to give her a hard time). I know I felt better because it kind of goes along with the whole grounding yourself thing (from electromagnetic fields - check out my website listed at the top of the blog for more information). I always have felt better when I was at the beach, but now I understand why!

The summer is always a good season for me. The warmth and outdoor activities always seem to put me in a great mood! Plus, who doesn't love a warm summer night at a baseball game? or a day at the lake? It's so easy for us to get caught up in TV and computers, but I have been trying to stay away from them and get outside and enjoy nature....go on a hike, bikeride, or just have a little picnic.

We all need some fresh air sometimes, to breath in the salty ocean or to be at the top of a mountain enjoying the breeze...You can literally turn a bad mood into a good one instantly, by stepping outside and letting yourself relax and enjoy the view!!

And on the third day...

2011-04-23T15:30:00.000-04:00

"There are no atheists in foxholes" is a quote a lady on Facebook sent me one time. It's probably one of my favorite quotes. There could be nothing more true...everyone wants to believe there is a God, whether Christian, Hindu, Greek Mythology, etc.

Nothing, and I mean nothing can both push you further away OR bring you closer to God than to have a lifetime genetic disorder such as EDS. Why me? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do I feel like I try to do everything right and it still hurts? Well, God likes to test us. What doesn't kill you can only make you stronger.

In college, I was never very religious. I went about four or five years not attending church or praying. Well, let me tell you what, the last year has brought me closer to God than I've ever been...and as it turns out I've learned He answers prayers in many ways shapes and forms. Not getting into PT school, blistering after a CT scan, finding out I had a tumor...all of those things happened for a reason. I am slowly learning and growing in my faith that there is a God and He puts us through tests both small and large to see how we will react.

I reacted with anger and doubt in the beginning, but in a search for answers for what causes the expression of the gene for EDS and other questions I had I have begun to build a faith stronger than I ever thought possible that maybe one day I can help others with EDS and that all of this pain and suffering I went through was for a reason.

I still don't attend church. Most people would frown on that fact. I like to praise God in my own way and if others judge for that then its their ignorance of what faith and a relationship with God is, that causes them to feel that way towards people who don't always do what society would say is a good and faithful servant.

Easter Sunday is a day to celebrate life. Celebrate the life you have been given...we only live once and I plan on living it up till the day I die, praising God for everything I have been given :)

Step by Step...

2011-04-18T13:50:00.000-04:00

What's the next step?

I have been asking myself this question a lot recently. From where I was this time last year, to where I am now, I don't think many would even see the same person. I don't mean this in a physical way, because obviously, I look the same. I mean this in a spiritual, emotional, and changing of life perspective way.

It takes only a few seconds to change your life forever. Everything you once knew could become an unknown in the blink of an eye. Adapting is something that we all have to learn to master. We adapt to our surroundings...I don't mean this in that you have to adapt your personality or your morals, but to adapt your lifestyle. Always try to keep an open mind to opportunities that might be put in front of you. I have now firmly believe in the "when one door closes, another opens statement," even though I hate to admit it.

After coming up with a treatment that is working for me, I am trying to figure out the best way to use it to help others. It is very simple and completely natural. I am only eating organic food and trying to get rid of anything toxic that I might be exposed to in my house/environment. This isn't all of the treatment, I just don't want to post something online and then someone use it without consulting a doctor. The next step in this process has been puzzling for me. I know I feel better, I know its starting to work for others, but how do I get out to the public and use all of this knowledge I have about EDS and other connective tissue disorders?

If you have any ideas...send them my way!

Patience is a virtue.

2011-04-13T12:47:00.000-04:00

Have you ever felt like your were stuck in a rut? Where every direction you try, there seems to be something blocking it?

I've been very successful in my research/treatments in the last few months, and REALLY have started to feel like a new person. The treatment I am doing is working, and I am so very blessed for all of the things that I have going for me.

Now that I feel better, what is the next step for me? I personally am a busy body, I HATE sitting in one place for too long. I am always on "power-mode" as some of my friends would say. Even when I was really sick and down in the dumps, I still was always thinking and trying to use my energy in a positive way.

I am still trying to do that now, it just feels like there is a wall standing in my way. Patience is a virtue. I am having to learn to be patient. If anyone knows me, they know this isn't my strongest quality. If I want something to get done, I will do it immediately...

I need to practice what I preach and learn to be grateful for what I have and the blessings I have been given. Patience truly is a virtue and I hope its something I can master one day. All of these little lessons in life build character if we let them. I know I have grown in many emotional and spiritual ways in the last year or so, and I hope to continue the growth. Patience is just the next lesson on the list.

Rock my world little country girl...

2011-03-21T15:12:00.000-04:00

Spring is here! I can't tell you how much I love Spring and Summer... Spring came to NC about a month early this year...the dogwoods are already blooming, crickets are chirping/singing (whatever they do), and everyone seems to have an elevated mood.

Its amazing how much weather influences our demeanor. I can see how people down in the tropics could live on the beach and work in a little tiki hut and be happier than most multimillionaires! It truly does come down to the simple things in life.

I grew up on a farm. Well, I say farm, my dad would like to think it is :) We have 20 acres, 2 dogs, and recently added a little chicken coup. My parents restored a farm house from the 1800's. In the beginning, when we first moved into the house, there was one bathroom. Try living with three girls, two of them pre-teens, and awkward as we could be, and the fights we would have over the how long the other had been hogging the mirror. There was also no central heat or air, we would go outside to cool down. Luckily, after I had back surgery, we added some air conditioner to the house in order to keep me somewhat comfortable.

All of the complaining aside, I wouldn't change that house for the world. There is something to be said about living a simple life and enjoying the world around you. Plus, we have some hilarious animal encounters we will never forget. I live in the city, and visiting my parents house has always been so relaxing and refreshing. Taking a breathe of fresh air is always some of the best therapy, and I can always sneak away with some free home-cooked food to take back to my house with me. When you live in the city, sometimes its hard to get away, relax, and enjoy the country. Sometimes, I really miss living out there!

We live in an extremely fast paced world. Iphone this, and DVR that is fun and exciting, but sometimes its nice to step away from all of the electronics and just walk barefooted in the grass on a spring summer day! I hope you get a chance to get outside and enjoy it soon!

Don't blow it - good planets are hard to find. ~Quoted in Time

2011-03-15T12:15:00.001-04:00

I have always been fascinated by the weather. Growing up I would be at my grandmothers house watching the weather channel and she would always update me on the most recent weather news. I always said in another life I would have been a meteorologist. With Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, I feel like I can predict the weather changes sometimes better than the local news channel, because of how I feel when the pressure changes before a storm. Sometimes I feel I could even predict it down to 2.1100inches of rain with a SW wind at 20mph...

I'm originally from Jackson, Ms. We aren't exactly in "tornado ally" but I have seen my fair share of tornado-like weather...It never ceases to amaze me the power that nature has over us. We have no control over it. Yes, global warming is obviously a problem, and I am starting to believe some of the Al Gore hype (as seen by the most recent climate changes we have had)...but in total we still will never understand how Mother Nature works. One day the weather can be 70's and sunny and the next its in the 40's, cold and rainy. The climate is changing rapidly and it DOES have an effect on the way we feel. Natural disasters seem to be popping up daily. All of these tsunamis, hurricanes, tornado's can take the life of someone instantly...

Singing in the rain in Asheville. Early 1990s..

"God does not play dice", as Einstein once said. Everything in our lives, both big and small, does happen for a reason. While we will NEVER understand when, where or why these events happen, we do need to praise Him for the life He has given us today. Live everyday as if it were your last.

While the world is changing more every day, I know I have a peace about myself that I have never had before...I hope others will start searching for their own answers in many aspects of life, the way that I have done. I am not trying to brag at all, I just know its an amazing feeling to finally, after all of the turmoil I've had over the last year, find a peace in knowing that everything will be okay. Through a lot of prayer and hard work (yes, sometimes life is hard), you can find a way to live your life to the fullest and make small differences in the lives of others around you....who knows if the world will end in a massive quake or a nuclear explosion?? All I know is where I'm going when its over.

We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

I'm a tar heel born, I'm a tar heel bred...

2011-03-12T15:58:00.001-05:00

I love sports. There is something to be said about teamwork and being part of a group. While I don't always follow all of the games of a particular team, I love tournament time. I'm a huge UNC Tar Heel fan, due to the fact that I attended college there... and nothing can beat a close UNC/Duke game (obviously with UNC coming out on top).

Having a chronic illness/genetic disorder puts you in a special group of your own. The unfortunate thing is that it is sometimes hard to find someone to talk to besides an online group. I have found that talking with others online who have EDS has been the best therapy I can use. I encourage you to find groups online with chat rooms, or find Facebook groups you can be a part of.

Last year at UNC in 2008 at a Duke/UNC game!

Recently, I've worked on building up my social group of friends, outside of virtual reality. I'm trying to get off of the computer and limit my time on the web. I still have a great group of friends on the internet, but having a strong group of friends to spend physical time with, has really helped me. I have tried to find others in my area with similar illnesses. The first time I met someone with EDS was the most eye opening experience I have ever had...No one in my family has it, so I struggled to find someone to relate to. I've even gone to doctors appointments with them to offer support....we can always learn more.

It is so easy to close ourselves off from the world, but I encourage you to get out there and meet people. Join the Y, find a club or a hobby where you can work with others... and in the mean time join a huge group of fans, and cheer for UNC Tar Heels as they make their way to hopefully another championship!

I'm beautiful in my way- 'cause God makes no mistakes - I'm on the right track baby" - Lady Gaga

2011-03-10T19:09:00.001-05:00

So I've kind of always "marched to my own beat". I have never really been very "trendy", worried about what kind of purse/shoes I have, or had to get the latest gadget. This characteristic has been expressed even more recently, in ways it would take hours to explain...

I know that what I say has to sound ridiculous to some people. When I tell people I am very sensitive to electromagnetic fields they just kind of roll their eyes and say yea right. In the beginning of all of this research, I was embarrassed for worrying of appearing too "weird" or "different." I have had numerous people laugh in my face about what I have said, just because its a novel idea, and it would really upset me... Now, I am totally fine with it, because if the research we are conducting proves true, I will have the ability to look back and say "See! I wasn't making it up!"

Me (on the left) Madeline, my sister, on the right.

Even if we don't prove anything statistically significant, I frankly don't really care what others think about me anymore. Before you jump to conclusions about my previous statement, please continue reading and I will explain. I do care what others think about me when it comes to respect. I want others to respect me, just as I respect them. I might be a little eccentric, or say things that cause people to look at me funny, but I don't let that get to me. I have such a peace about myself now, that I have never had in my life. I have finally learned to accept who I am, and be proud of it. No one can change who I am or what I believe....we are all entitled to our own opinions about life, and the way it should be lived. If we all go around judging others, it's because we are unhappy with something in our own lives.

While there are universal laws (ex: Thou shalt not kill...etc) and morals, that help make up our conscience. Our opinions, styles, religions, music choice, and living habits, are completely up to us as individuals. As long as you don't mess my eccentric, happy, little world up, I am perfectly fine with you living however it is that you want to live...We need to stop judging others, and the world would be such a better place. Opening our minds up to accepting things as they ARE not as they APPEAR, would make a tremendous difference in politics, religions, scientific research, and that's only a few of the hot topics.

When we can be happy and accept who we are as individuals, it is only then we can open our eyes to a world of inner peace and happiness. When we find it, we can start using it to help/guide others find the same inner peace and joy that we will never be able to find in another human being.

P.S.: if you don't like who you are, you are the only one who can change it...