You Want To Do What

Okay, you want to do what to my what???
                     

For most women, my self-included the word mammogram fills their body with dread and their minds with fear.

I am no different. I was scheduled for a routine mammogram today and almost canceled.

My appointment was scheduled for a new facility that I had never gone to and I was in no mood to go.

Why you ask besides the obvious?   Well, you may not be able to tell in the picture because I just look so darn cute that I have Ankylosing Spondylitis.

What does that have to do with me getting a mammogram you ask?

Why nothing at all but at the same time it has everything to do with it.

My aunt Norma died of breast cancer, so there is a family history that makes the need to be checked more important.

Only problem is up until a few years ago I hadn't had one.

Why you ask?

Because of Ankylosing Spondylitis and the fact that I am fused, and not flexible.

You have to be a pretzel to get just the right picture! And I am no pretzel I am more like a broom stick!

I have been to several locations, made numerous attempts and just left.

The pain, the frustration, the embarrassment, the humiliation and lack of compassion showed to me during those times, resulted in me walking away.

But yesterday was different. 

Because of Ashley and Donna.... my experience turned out to be the blessing of the day for my garden of gratitude.

I have been going to doctors nonstop from 1973 for this and that till 2002 when I was finally diagnosed.

Since then I can count on my hand the number of times I have run into someone in the medical field that knew what Ankylosing Spondylitis was or had heard of it.

Yesterday, Ashley was asking me to give medical information and I got ready to the deer in the headlight look...when I said I have Ankylosing Spondylitis.

She says, "OH! I have heard of that when I was learning to be a tech!" I was so shocked and excited that I jumped up (okay okay, so that is a little bit of a stretch!) and walked over to her and HUGGED HER!

It ended up being a party, several people assisted Donna was the boob holder and helped me stay in place so I wouldn't stumble back. 

I can't begin to tell you how wonderful these two amazing ladies where.

Ashley told Donna as soon as she came in the room, she hugged me! Then relaying the reason.

I felt I had won the lottery!

You see I am fused from the base of my skull to my tail bone. I have no or very very very limited motion in my spine or movement in my head.

So...

You can imagine the issues I had, not to mention the excruciating pain involved but with the help of these two compassionate ladies. We got it done!

Knowledge, compassion, kindness, empathy, understanding, and dignity all in one moment.

I told them thank you and I appreciate your kindness, but I doubt they will truly understand how much that meant to me.

I went outside, sat quietly in my car and let the tears fall. I cried because of the beauty of the moment and I cried because it's such a rare experience in my life.

They were my beautiful roses in my garden of gratitude.

Today I am so grateful there are still people who are so compassionate!