The Facebook group that I help moderate, Medical Musings with Friends, runs a weekly thread called ‘Thankful Thursdays’.

The wonderful lady who started the forum, Sam, encourages members to reflect on the things that we are thankful for each week. It’s an excellent exercise in gratefulness.

I’ve written before about being thankful, however I wanted to dedicate a specific post to some people and things that I am particularly appreciative for.

My Husband

Within the first six month or so of dating my husband, I got pneumonia. He came to my aid and helped me out a lot. During our time dating, I was sick on and off, and had several bad injuries. He stuck by me, and made the decision to marry me. He didn’t know, however, that my issues would be permanent.

The last couple of years, when my health has declined, he has been…

Today, the 1st of August, kicks off Gastroparesis Awareness Month!

What is Gastroparesis and why is it important that we have a month dedicated to its awareness and advocacy?

Gastroparesis (GP) is a condition that basically means “paralysed stomach”. People who have it have stomachs that don’t work properly. Instead of being able to squeeze, digest, and move food on, their stomachs aren’t functioning well so food just sits there. That causes a host of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, GERD, feeling full very quickly, etc.

Those symptoms can lead to malnutrition and dehydration, so GP patients can end up in hospital needing fluids, or on feeding tubes, or TPN.

Sadly, some patients with severe GP do die from it.

We need to care about this disorder there are people, myself included, who suffer every day.

There are limited treatments.

Medications and Botox often fail and/or stop working…

Today 25th of April 2017 is a day of remembrance .  It marks the anniversary of the 1st major military action fought by Australians and New Zealanders.

Today is a day of reflection. To remember those that gave their life so we could live ours.

Anzac stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

On the 25th April  the Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli.  This was a bloody campaign with both sides,the Anzacs and the Ottoman Turkish Defenders with heavy casualties.  This lasted for 8 months. Over 8,000 Australians died in this campaign and many more wounded.  They went through severe hardship in those 8 months.  Even though this failed its “military objectives” April 25 and Gallipoli became the day that Australians remember the sacrifice these men gave their country.

In 1916 on the 25th April, the first Anzac Day commemorations were held around Australia.

Today also we…