05/15/2026
Happy Friday and happy 3 week post-op recovery 💪💪 my friends!! So many have asked how I’m doing, so here’s a little update!
To be honest…the past 3 weeks has felt like 3 months 🤦♀️ and this recovery has been much harder than I expected 😞. I feel like I’m pretty used to pain at this point, but this is a whole new level. The surgery was a big one. They had to go through the front of my throat, moving my esophagus and vocal cords aside, removing multiple discs, and placing screws, plates, and fusions into my cervical spine. Because of all the disruption to the esophagus and vocal cords, eating solid foods has not been fun and sleeping has been rough. I also never realized just how heavy your head is 🤣. If I hold my head up longer than 2 hours (if that) the pain is enough to send me through the roof 🤦♀️.
The neck brace and I are basically inseparable, but far from BFFs 🤣. It’s on 24/7 unless I’m eating or showering.
My surgeon explained that my bone quality is poor, which means right now the biggest priority is allowing these bones to properly fuse and heal the way they’re supposed to. So for once…(make sure you all document this 🤣) I’m actually listening to doctor’s orders and trying very hard to slow down and be careful (which isn’t easy….if you know me, you know).
Through all this, there IS improvement each and every day and I’m so thankful. There are so many people going through soooo much more so not a moment passes that I don’t appreciate where I’m at 🫶🏻💕
Last night I was able to get out of the house for a bit to present 3 scholarship awards on behalf of Awareness 365, Inc. and it honestly filled my heart. My recliner was waiting for me when I got home for sure, but it was so wonderful to forget about “healing” for a bit and pay it forward to so many deserving students 💚
Thank you soo much for all of your messages, cards, gifts and prayers 💕
I got this!! While I continue to recover, I’ll keep holding onto my “BRAVE” mug ☕️, inhaling courage and exhaling fear… trusting the process, trusting God, and turning pain into power 💪🫶🏻