Hey there! my name is Joey. I live in Charlotte, NC with my husband (SH) and a great group of friends.
I started this blog back in 2012 after a big break-up. I wanted a way to process and document being single again my 40s. In addition to my online dating adventures (which resulted in finding the love of my life! don’t give up!), I’ve also blogged about various things I’ve tried and enjoyed. After an almost 3 year gap, I find myself turning to this journal again as a way to document my life observations.
My medical journey
In 2014, I started blogging my medical adventures including the discovery of a football-sized dermoid wrapped around my ovary, and polyps on my uterus resulting a hysterectomy and partial oophorectomy. The biopsy results revealed I had endometrial cancer. Thankfully, the surgery was curative and I’ve been in remission for the past 5 years.
In 2015, I was diagnosed with plantar fibromatosis aka Ledderhose Disease in both feet. I’ve tried steroid shots and radiation therapy, but neither has provided long-term relief. There are more treatments I hope to pursue, but they’ve been put on hold for a while.
In 2016, I started having severe kidney pains. At first written off as kidney or uric acid stones, it became increasingly worse in 2018 and resulted in over 16 ER visits. Finally, after obtaining a referral to Duke Medical Hospital, I was diagnosed with noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinoma in my left kidney and ureter. They will both be removed on June 17, 2019.
I write about my experiences in hopes that it helps others as much as the catharsis of putting my feelings in to words helps me. I try to find the humor when I can.
Updated 6/8/2019