Happy One Year Anniversary to This Blog!

Wow!  How fast a year goes by.  It is hard to believe that just over one year ago I started this little blog because I couldn’t find anything that talked about the day to day life of someone with Gastroparesis.  I felt that it was important to provide this insight so that others would know that they are not alone.  I felt it was important for family and friends to be able to read about what a GPers life is like, because lets be honest.  GPers get sick and tired of talking about it and repeating it to different people.  Our energy is limited and we don’t want to waste it talking about being sick.

I wasn’t sure if anyone would even read this blog outside of my parents (Hi Mom & Dad! Thanks for always supporting me and being there!), my fiance (Hi! You still don’t realize that I wouldn’t be where I am today without you!), and a handful of friends (Hi there buddy who sat on a burrito!).  However, much to my dismay I didn’t realize just how much there was a need for a blog like this.  The messages I have received over the past year have been extremely touching.  I am especially touched by the parents of teens with Gastroparesis who follow this blog.  Their teens do not want to open up and have told me that the blog helps them understand better what their kids are going through.  It never crossed my mind that these parents would need a resource.  I have received messages that have brought tears to my eyes and remind me how important it is to keep writing.  (YES, I NEED to write more regularly than I have been lately.)

The LAST thing I expected was for this little blog to reach over 80 countries!!!  It’s reached 83 countries to be exact and the image below shows just how much of the world 83 countries is.  The darker the color the more times the country has been reached.  Who knew so many people from Canada, UK, and Australia would be following this blog.  So I’d like to say hello, cheers, and good day to all of you!!

This blog and helping others with Gastroparesis have given me a purpose out of all of the garbage that comes with Gastroparesis, so THANK YOU to everyone for following and reading this blog and helping to spread positivity.

As I reflect on the past year, I am truly in utter shock as to how much my life has changed.  I will be writing about this throughout the week because last year at this time I would never believe I would be feeling as good as I do (most of the time) today.  I would have never thought that I would complete 3 half marathons between then and now.  I would have never thought that I would by lobbying for Gastroparesis in Washington DC between then and now.  I would have never thought that I would have raised over $1,400 for Gastroparesis research between then and now.  (HUGE thanks to the friends that donated.)  I’ll be honest, I had a hunch I would be engaged between then and now. :)  I would have never thought that I would be able to work full time between then and now.  I would have never thought the friends that I lost and the friends that I gained between then and now.  I would have never thought that I would eat solid food between then and now!!!!

So 2013 might have started out fully in the gutter but wow did I show it and Gastroparesis a thing or to!

THANK YOU AGAIN for following this blog and supporting positivity in the face of trials!!

~Millie