Check- In Time!

 At some time or another, we have all checked in at a place or with people before. You may have checked in at a hotel, appointment, school, work . You may also have checked in with people in your life, such as a boss, mentor, therapist, a friend or family member. This could be in the form of a call, video chat, text, email or visit. Remember back in the day the field trips we used to go on when we were in school?! My Mom used to chaperone all the time for those field trips- the best right there and so many good memories 💞!!! A chaperone is someone who is in charge of a group of students. At certain points of the trip depending on the location (amusement park, museum), the group may separate from a period of time and has to check in with the chaperone. For example, if one is at an amusement park or fair, some may want to ride a certain ride, but the others don't. The chaperone would usually go to a particular place that was easy to find and that all could meet back at. The students could go check in and let them know how they were doing and see how the chaperone was doing. That was a good feeling knowing you were not alone and could check in with someone, even if the chaperone wasn't right beside you the whole time. Just like we checked in on field trips, we should do the same thing in life. I went to a routine checkup doctor's appointment on Tuesday, June 21st of this year that changed my life for the better 🙏. Before this appointment, I had been feeling tired, but thought it was the tired from the school year that a lot of staff and teachers were feeling. At the doctor's appointment, I got vital signs checked and blood work done. The next morning, Wednesday, June 22nd, I got a call from my doctor's office with unexpected news on the other end. I got news that my red blood cell count was very low and I needed to go to the emergency room as soon as possible to get a blood transfusion. After I hung up the phone, it took me a few minutes to tell my brother what I heard as I was struggling to put into words what I just heard. So not long after, we went to the emergency room where I got my blood transfusion. On the way to the hospital, I did call one of my uncles to tell him what was going on. I also shared with a few family and friends who could pray for me 🙏. I was nervous, scared, feeling uncertain, and not knowing what would happen as I have never had a blood transfusion. Through all the thoughts going through my mind, I do remember knowing who had been there the whole time and that was God 👏!! Once I got to the emergency room and went through the transfusion, I was able to stay calm and have peace. My brother was with me throughout the whole process - so thankful💙!! He didn't come in my room at the very beginning of the process, but came in while I was getting the blood transfusion. I had really good nurses who checked on me throughout the whole process. It is a very intense process as they constantly check your temperature, pulse, and blood pressure throughout. They also check in with you as a patient often to make sure you're doing okay. There's that check in again 😊. Two hours and fifteen minutes later, my blood transfusion was finished!! They monitored my vital signs 15 minutes after to make sure they were still okay. Everything went well as my vital signs stayed good the whole time and I had no side effects after my transfusion. I was able to go home the same day- praise God 💗!! As I sat on the hospital bed with the IV tube pumping blood in me and seeing the equipment check my vital signs, it really made me stop and think about life and how things can happen so quick. Now I need to mention that the same hospital I got my blood transfusion at was the same hospital my Mom went to when she got sick in January 2020. She was transferred to another local hospital where she did pass a few days later 🙏. That was the first time my brother and I had been there since she passed. These thoughts were also running through my mind on top of everything with the blood transfusion. My brother also remembered and we talked about it. God blessed me through the transfusion 💙!! You see, one call, one move, one situation can change your life. It made me thankful that it wasn't any worse and it could be taken care of. I am also thankful that my doctor was attentive to the results of my lab work. The diagnosis I received was anemia, where you lack iron in your body and have a low red blood cell count of hemoglobin. Since then, I have been  taking an iron supplement pill and get monthly blood work done to check my levels. I have gone both in July and this month and each time, my levels have been increasing 👏 !! God is good!! Along with the medicine, I have included more iron rich foods in my meals, such as hamburger, pork chops, raisins and leafy green vegetables, such as kale and spinach. I'm going to keep doing what I have been doing. I am working on getting more rest (which is something I needed to do before the diagnosis). I am continuing to exercise as I was doing before. I am more conscious of what I do and not do in my day and have to monitor myself more closely so I don't overdo it. I do get tired more easily at times, so knowing my limits and when to say no is so important. Overall, I am feeling more energized with everything and thankful for the progress 🙏. God has a way of opening your eyes to changes that should take place in your life. I knew I should have been doing things more consistently, but it took that situation in my life to really open my eyes up even more. Thanks to anemia, I'm changing my life for the better 💜. I would have never known about my low red blood cell count if I hadn't checked in with my doctor and got blood work done. That's why your check-ins are so important, whether it be for your health, professional, family, or community. Those check-ins can set you on the right path and be life-changing- I'm a witness 👏 !! I hope you are encouraged and moved to make that appointment, phone call, or text for your next check-in. Don't take it for granted. I'm so glad I didn't and I hope you don't either! Believe me when I say, your life will change for the better when you keep those check-ins💞. I love you all and may God continue to bless you 🙏💞!!