UNC Fails Again

So for about the past four years I have suffered from these very intense pains in my lower stomach. Every doctor I went to ran about one or two tests but when they couldn't figure it out they just kind of wrote me off. The pains are so sharp that typically I need to lay down until they pass because any movement just intensifies it. Fortunately, the pain usually only lasts a few minutes and it slowly eases away. However, recently these pains are more frequent and tend to last longer. Also, I've had extreme heartburn, nausea after eating, and stomach discomfort. Now I'm no doctor, but that's not right. So I went to the UNC clinic and the doctor seemed very concerned, even dropping the words, "future cancer," so I figured she would figure it out. After three hours of tests including giving three things of blood, she sent me home. I get a call TWO weeks later saying she would look further into it Friday. Then today I had an attack but this time the pain lasted over an hour. After I told the clinic that I was in extreme pain they graciously let me in before a few people with stuffy noses. This doctor actually listened to me, made me direct ultrasound appointments, and didn't even charge me. Health care is really getting ridiculous. Anymore you have to hound a specific place before anything gets done. Thank goodness I have an appointment at the hospital tomorrow, and should have some answers soon. Pretty much I'm disgusted with the student clinic. I realize they are an establishment of the University but this was one situation where I was really let down and felt cheated seeing as I pay about $900 a semester for health care. Thank you UNC for failing again.

Valentine's Day

So, apparently I'm not as good at keeping up with this blog that I thought I would be, oh well... Anyways, I got to thinking today about the either despised or cherished day of Valentine's Day. It's a very interesting day because there seems to be people who are completely infatuated with the holiday, those who seriously can't stand it, or those of us who take our own meaning from it. For me it happens to be the anniversary of my engagement to Luke. February 14, 2007 Luke Corliss asked me to marry him. I know it sounds cliche but it truly is a day that changed my life forever. This was a starting point for a lot of changes in my life. For one, the event caused a lot of backlash from my so called "friends." It made me realize who my true friends were and who really shouldn't be in my life. I grew up a lot because of this. I went from a very trusting and naive person, to a very strong and hesitant person. When I realized that I was a joke and even the cause of a bet, to those people who I would have done anything for, I found that I needed to stand up for myself and stand by my decision to take the next step with Luke. On a more positive note, this day also changed the relationship with my parents. Their approval and support meant so much to me. They allowed me to grow up a my own pace and respected the fact that I was ready to move on to something bigger. They were constantly there for me and this in turn made me so much closer to them than I had ever been before. This step also initiated Luke and I to move in together. I know it's an old taboo to move in together before you're married, but I would seriously suggest this to anyone considering marriage. You learn s much about a person by moving in with them. You find out how to deal with someone elses annoying habits. Living with another person you find out what's worth fighting over,ad what's not. You learn how t form your life around someone else, how to handle financial stress, you suddenly realize that things aren't always about you, and you certainly learn to say the word sorry, no matter how stubborn you are. Overall, Valentines Day signifies the start of a promise I made to Luke. To always stand by him, to support him, to tell him when he's wrong, to admit when I'm wrong, and to love him every single day of my life. Luke is my very best friend and I am so lucky to have him with me every step along the way. I love you Lucas Alan Corliss, and I always will. Love always, your wife.