Ode to the "Great Harvester"

For two years I have had a companion in the "great harvester". I'll never forget when I woke up in the hospital in 2022 and there was a bag attached to my side. I was told prior to the surgery that there was a 2% chance of such an event, but I couldn't understand how it had happened. The kindest nurse came in and tried to make it ok. She told me that naming things attached to our body can make them become less of a burden, and more of a blessing. At the time I wasn't in much of a joking mood, but tried to keep my humor... this Stoma would literally touch everything I ever ate. Thus the birth of the great harvester. During the past several years I cannot count the number of uncomfortable situations I have shared with the Great Harvester. Sometimes my stoma was far too powerful for the accompany bag and would spread it's goodness all over everywhere, and mostly all over me. Carrying an extra change of clothes (or three) became the norm. I learned very quickly how to clean myself up in a public bathroom and the best places to borrow scissors pretty much any where around. I learned the power of air freshner, and the joys of cleaning a toilet at least twice a day. Some of these skills will be carried forward in my life, and some I will not miss! Now it is time to put the great harvester away (hopefully for good). In just a few days I am going back under the knife to reattach my colon. It's a bitter sweet time. you may wonder why I'm not jumping for joy. The truth is, there are so many possible outcomes of complications associated with the take down that make me nervous. Having been the 2% before I know that your life can change quickly. The biggest obstacle is if my uterus and colon can become friends again and share a home. Endometriosis (the evil monster that got us into this position) is a complicated problem. It leaves great destruction all along it's path. There is a large amount of scar tissue, and such that will have to be navigated through to make that miracle happen. I don't know the odds, but there is a strong probability that I may have to have a hysterectomy at age 36 before I've ever had the chance to bring a child into this world. I won't sugar coat that, it is hard. However, I think today I want to focus on saying thank you to the great harvester. As inconvenient and messy as you have made my life, you did save it. Medicine cn be miraculous these days. Who knew a stoma could be created and covered by a simple contraction to allow life to continue. Who knew that while I recovered from the affets of my nemsis, I could live a relatively normal life? Because of you harvester, I got to spend a couple of more years with mom. I can hold my nieces and nephews. I can camp, float the river, read books, watch movies, and make memories. So thank you "Great Harvester" for giving me the gift of life. Thank you great harvester, I have calculated that I have spent around $10,000 to keep you supplied over the past while. (Also, thanks for making good use of my insuarance upon your creation. Without that I would have paid $140,000 just to have you) I appreciate you giving me back my $300.00 per month. I promise to use this money to do good for someone any chance I can and to help others witht their own challenges. If you wondered how I'm feeling about all of this, it's hard to say. What I do know is I feel blessed to be guided by God to two surgeons that I trust who are willing to work together to make some magic happen! Thank you forever Dr. Jeff Arrington and Dr. Abby Crume. Thank you to all who have been so kind and supportive through this and all of my life's journey. I hope to be by your side when you get to take down your big trials too!