Tag: mindset

A Crohn’s Journey

In October, 2021, my daughter was diagnosed with Small Bowel Crohn’s Disease (SBCD).

When our medical staff first delivered and discussed her diagnosis, I felt numb – and suddenly, hollow.

I felt a heartbreaking surge of all that had occurred in weeks previous, leading to this moment.

I caught my breath, in the stream the tears on my cheeks.

Simultaneously, I felt a sense of relief, that we now had a diagnosis.

I vowed to be strong. For my daughter. And for our family.

From the beginning, our family banded together, to help my daughter begin to navigate her path, to living well with Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s Disease: Treatment and Management

Our Crohn’s journey has been lengthy, and arduous. But ours is also a story of triumph.

Our experience has underscored our capacity to remain fiercely strong and unconditionally united – to help my daughter through her diagnosis, her timeline of treatment(s), and hospitalizations.

From the outset, the presentation my daughter’s Crohn’s, and its path – were determined to be unusually complex.

Together as a family, we researched and discussed a breadth of treatment approaches for Crohn’s, to help manage my daughter’s symptoms. And we discussed our findings, and thoughts on these, with our healthcare team.

Because Crohn’s is such an individual disease, partnered with the immediacy with which it must be treated – our mission was fast-paced. Immediately upon diagnosis, discussions began with our medical team – alongside paperwork, and a lengthy list of appointments, blood draws and other testing. A schedule was set for MRI and CT scans, and follow-up. It was so much all at once, and for a long time, it seemed never-ending.

And there were times when it seemed we were at a standstill – as with every treatment introduction, change, or stage of treatment, necessitated a “wait and see” approach.

My daughter’s treatment timeline is extensive and complex. There was an eight-week, Modulen-exclusive (IBD formula drink) diet. Then, we opted to try the very specific, and strictly regimented Crohn’s exclusion diet (CDED). She did well on this regimen for quite some time. Steroids were also fixed into the course of her treatment, at various points, with differing types and doses. Ultimately though, her Crohn’s treatment necessitated a shift to biologics.

We tried several biologics for my daughter. There were times when we saw improvement in her symptoms, alongside evidence of reduced inflammation. But these positive signs, unfortunately, quickly receded.

She has had a myriad of complications along her treatment timeline. We have spent many days and nights in our local and out-of-town emergency rooms – and my daughter had many in-patient hospital stays, both in and out-of-town.

She has had abscess drainage procedures, an intestinal resection, and a seton placement.

At some points we were so on edge, and expectant about having to head to an emergency room, scan or other short-notice appointment, at any given time.

For the summer months in 2023, my daughter stayed in hospital. She began a Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) regimen, as her Crohn’s treatment required bowel rest.  

She was still in pediatrics at this time. As with her hospital stays preceding this one – I stayed in-hospital with her, for the duration.

Following this seven-week stay, my daughter unfortunately experienced further complications.

These complexities necessitated a period of in-home nursing care, intravenous (IV) medicine administration, and a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) line. Fortunately, she was able to return to school during this time, while utilizing a portable IV pump.

Finding a Path Forward with Crohn’s Disease

The road to a workable, longer-term treatment course for my daughter has by no means been without obstacles. There are many key things we learned along our journey.

Our family always understood that Crohn’s – as with any disability or condition (and the ability opportunity manage it effectively, and to live well), is so much more than the diagnosis itself. We understand that a diagnosis involves critical considerations connecting one’s physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing.

Alongside a cohesive, communicative and receptive medical team, I strongly believe that advocacy – and self-advocacy – are critical keys. It is so important for one to have a voice – and that one’s voice is heard, genuinely listened to, and clearly understood.

At age 17, my daughter was able to begin making decisions regarding her healthcare.

I support and encourage my daughter to access and utilize her voice – to assert and advocate for herself, and for others – while supporting others, in their efforts to access and utilize their own voice.

And advocacy will remain important, as and since my daughter has transitioned to the “adult world”, concerning her Crohn’s treatment, and overall care.

Upon starting our Crohn’s journey, we discovered how and why research is also a critical key, and from reputable sources.

A clear understanding of the disease and its individuality is crucial – partnered with knowledge and a clear understanding of available treatments (including their effectiveness, and each one’s possible side effects, as examples), and the processes involved in accessing these.

Our family is grateful to those whom we have spoken to along our journey, who live with Crohn’s. They have so openly shared their Crohn’s experiences and knowledge with us.

We appreciate and express our gratitude for the love and support of our family, and our closest friends – for extending their support and love to us, through some very difficult times.

I am so incredibly proud of my daughter – for all that she has endured, and overcome.

Now, more than three years since the initial diagnosis, we are now on the other side of her Crohn’s disease.

She is currently on a biologic that is working well for her.

In November 2024, her scan images showed healthy intestinal tissue.

My daughter has achieved clinical remission.

She has started University, and she is well on her way to achieving a career about which she is passionate.

Perhaps you – or a family member, a loved one or friend – may be at a challenging juncture on a journey with Crohn’s.

You can, and you will, get to that other side.

For more information and resources concerning Crohn’s disease, you can connect with Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.

Stay positive. Stay strong. Ask questions, and advocate.

Sources

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. Biotherapies. https://crohnsandcolitis.ca/About-Crohn-s-Colitis/IBD-Journey/Treatment-and-Medications/Biotherapies. January 27, 2025.

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. https://crohnsandcolitis.ca/. January 27, 2025.

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Overview of Crohn’s Disease. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/patientsandcaregivers/what-is-crohns-disease/overview. January 27, 2025.

Jessen Hickman, Ruth, MD. Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) and How It Works. Giving Nutrition Through The Veins. Very well health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/total-parenteral-nutrition-uses-methods-side-effects-5184974. January 27, 2025.

The Mayo Clinic. Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line – Mayo Clinic. January 27, 2025.

Keeping a Positive Mindset in Challenging Times

Have you pondered the impact of thinking positively?

How do you define positivity, and the mindset of ‘positive’, for yourself?

There are times in life – while in the throes of its ebb and flow – when we reflect on the past and present, and the current trajectory of our lives.

I am a deep-thinking person, with an analytical mind – and I often make time for reflection, and self-reflection.

Unequivocally, the past cannot be changed.

There is only today. There is now.

Time for reflection, and contemplation, helps me to move progressively forward, and to maintain a positive mindset.

The Impact of Thinking Positively, as Life Moves Forward

Everyday life continues for all of us, amid challenges, and unforeseen circumstances.

The Coronavirus pandemic, at its height, and throughout – has brought so much upon all of us. And its consequences have perpetuated unprecedented, multi-tiered and multi-faceted worldwide change.

We are left to recover, and to begin anew. And with so much change – next to the continual and far-reaching fallout, our rebuilt landscape seems fragile, and it is always evolving.

We are constantly and consistently refamiliarizing ourselves with this strange and daunting terrain. And this continues to be a catalyst for reflection.

Still, life has carried on, inevitably.

The holiday season again brings time and opportunity for reflection. Christmas and other holidays are not always easy, and this can weigh heavily upon our hearts and minds.

It is a reminder that there are things we can do to encourage and to maintain a positive attitude. And it will radiate to, and positively impact, those around us.

It can be unsettling – to establish, and re-establish our lives – and to find stable, and then forward-moving footing.

We have all confronted and risen from the depths of hard times.

Employment challenges, food and security concerns, turbulent relationships and family dynamics…

The multitude of stressors that we must contend with, work through, and resolve in our lives, is complex and continual.

There are likely experiences, and periods of time in our lives that we regret, and thus might never want to repeat. Contemplating them might needle feelings of discontent, confusion, and a sense of loss, perhaps.

Our trials and our turmoil are among our best teachers.

Changing Our Mindset to Think Positively

Thinking positively impacts – and can be profoundly impacted by – one’s physical, emotional and mental health. And when one thinks positively, it radiates to others, and influences their emotions and general mindset, positively.

We all have positive, and challenging days. And sometimes it might take a little bit of time to change our mind frame. And it can be difficult at times, to not let our challenges overshadow our efforts to settle into a positive mindset.

Do you have daily routines that help you to maintain your positive mindset?

Practising gratitude, engaging in meditation, listening to music, writing, a health and fitness regimen, time with friends and family, or a beloved pet(s)…

The possibilities are vast. And you might find one, or a few of these opportunities that resonate, to help you reconsider your outlook.

And remember: You are not alone.

Almost daily – on weekday mornings – I share a positive thought, or a quote – alongside a song from my playlist, and sometimes an anecdote, on Facebook.

My morning posts are benign. They are authentically me, as I share my thoughts and feelings in the moment, as I post. I do get comments on my daily posts – as others may find the simple everyday happenings and perspectives relatable. And I appreciate that my thoughts and words resonate.

I try to infuse positivity into my day, and I hope that it might have an encouraging effect for others, as well.

It is true, I believe – that seemingly small or inconsequential things can have a notable and lasting influence upon our ability and motivation to adjust our mindset.

Through time, and experience, life evolves, as it is meant to. Thinking positively, and maintaining an optimistic mindset, can certainly be a challenge. And at times, it may seem a near impossibility.

Life’s challenges can be a catalyst for optimism.

Sources

https://www.verywellmind.com/benefits-of-positive-thinking-2794767 . Benefits of Positive Thinking for Body and Mind. December 10, 2024.

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-think-positive#tips. How to Think Positive and Have an Optimistic Outlook: 8 Tips. December 10, 2024.

https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-to-think-positive. How to Think Positive: 7 Science-Backed Tips. December 10, 2024.

Are you an “Empty Nester”?

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Our newly-minted empty nest is a trial to navigate, and my husband and I are working through this experience, and this shift, together.

The reality of our ‘empty nest’ seemed to arrive abruptly. Whether one is ready for this transition, we reminded ourselves – it is inevitable, and necessary.

It is life changing.

Adjusting to The Empty Nest

My daughter has worked hard and has been dedicated to her studies, throughout her educational career. She is set on a path to higher education – and toward a career plan about which she is passionate.

My husband (he is also her stepdad) and I could not be prouder. She is keen, and on a good track.

September neared, signaling her move-in date, alongside the start of first term – and time seemed to accelerate. And the day came when my husband helped my daughter to move her things into her residence unit.

The short ride to the university felt like an intractable stretch.

And when she exited the car and came around to my side of it for a hug – I held her, and I cried.

My sadness persisted for the first three weeks, but then I was able to drop her off at her residence building, with a strong and reassuring hug, and a goodbye – and with no tears.

Logically, of course, I knew that we would see her often, and that she would be home with some regularity.

I’ve reflected upon my reaction in those first weeks, following her move – and my realization that my emotional response arose from another place. Redefining my feelings, while searching inwardly, changed my perspective.

It is not sadness that I felt initially, not solely.

It was a feeling of my own raw vulnerability – partnered with my pride, and pure love for my child – and a sense of awe.

As I watched her walk from the car to the doors of her residence, there was a definiteness to it. But there was also that thrill, an elation – a certainty that she is indeed on the threshold of a new beginning.

I felt joyful.

It was in knowing that “she’s got this”.

That her foundation was solid and strong. And that it was time.

The Backdrop to Our Empty Nest Experience, and Beginning Again

The backdrop to our empty nest experience involves unforeseen circumstances, and finally reaching a workable resolution.

My daughter has a long-standing, chronic health concern.

We bonded together as a family, in our search for answers, to achieve a diagnosis, and an appropriate treatment course. In the beginning, it was like time stopped, and our lives were forced into a holding pattern. It has been an arduous and heartbreaking three-year stretch.

Her stepdad and I are proud of her for everything she has been through – and we have successfully traversed a difficult journey. She is finally on a smoother road.

My daughter is feeling well and strong, and more confident with each day – and she is again on a forward move toward her goals.

We are excited to see how her future unfolds, as it happens.

In our individual lives, and as a family unit, the last three years have provided us with challenges – but also, with the opportunity to begin again.

Embracing Change, and Opportunity, in the Empty Nest

The thing that I realized most immediately on my daughter’s first day in residence was the silence in our now empty nest.

I moved through the house then, while breathing slowly, and deeply. This is a new start, I told myself. It is a new start for all of us. We will be ok. And this will be ok.

I’ve read upon what’s been termed the “Empty Nester’s Syndrome”.

It had crossed my mind some years ago – when university life, acclimatizing to it, and any changes around it, seemed more years away.

There are positives to it, despite the challenge of the empty nest adjustment.

I recently spoke with a friend about missing my daughter, and how my husband and I were missing her, and adjusting to her absence, in those first days after she moved into her residence unit. And I reflected again upon this – and on how keen she is, to launch into her future.

My daughter is creating and shaping her own path. She is finding her way.

My husband and I are navigating these strange, yet exciting waters. We’re making and experiencing changes in our own lives. And we are again finding our place in her life, amid this transition. We’re embracing the opportunity to witness my daughter’s growth and change – and how we will inevitably grow and evolve as people – as our familial connection evolves.

We have had some growing pains in this process – and surely, there will be ups and downs to come.

When my daughter comes home each week, she is sometimes exhausted, while communicating that she is overwhelmed. But she’s making progress, and I know that she is still on the right track.

She has more responsibility – with tasks like grocery and supply shopping, cleaning, studying and time management, time for self-care and social activities. And she is determined – while experiencing life, and learning more about herself in this process, and with time.

We still resist the urge to do ‘too much’ for her – and we are careful about too quickly pronouncing our perspectives on how or why she might do things. This is a learning experience for all of us.

And I know she will come to us for emotional support, and advice. We trust, and we have faith in her, in this time of learning and so much change.

We trust in our bond.

Time Does Not Stop in The Empty Nest

What will I do with all of the time I have now?

It is time to rebuild my life, in some ways, I suppose.  

Time to re-establish myself in the workforce. Time for investigating and reconsidering hobbies and interests, for enjoying time with friends, and in our individual lives.

My husband and I are also navigating changes and opportunities in our relationship.

Forming and fostering connections and opportunities is important. And this is true for all of us, at any and all stages of our lives.

And in beginning again – there is much to be celebrated and appreciated.

Sources

https://www.drrachelglik.com/blog-posts/2023/9/4/empty-nesting-the-upsides-downsides-and-tips-for-a-fresh-start-mindset. Empty Nesting: The Upsides, Downsides and Tips for a Fresh Chapter Mindset — Dr. Rachel Glik. November 13, 2024.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/sep/15/it-struck-me-like-a-thunderbolt-how-to-survive-empty-nest-syndrome-and-come-out-smiling. ‘It struck me like a thunderbolt’: how to survive empty-nest syndrome – and come out smiling | Parents and parenting | The Guardian. November 13, 2024.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empty%20nester. Merriam Webster Dictionary. November 13, 2024.

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/how-you-can-enjoy-the-empty-nest. The Mayo Clinic Health System. November 13, 2024.

Hello, and welcome to Mindset!

Hi, I’m Brandy, and welcome to my Mindset blog!

I am keen on sharing thoughts and perspectives, and fostering connections.

I strive every day to keep an encouraging outlook, and a positive mindset – while recognizing that this is a work in progress.

I enjoy sharing a positive quote or thought, or an anecdote, that might resonate with others. I hope that my words might encourage a spark of positivity for others, as well.

In many ways – in my life, and on my life’s path, at present – I am beginning again.

I have a passion for helping others – and a desire to assist organizations and businesses that support, advocate with and for, and promote awareness of persons with disabilities, youth and seniors, and other vulnerable groups and our community.

I have many years of experience both working and volunteering within our local community’s not-for-profit sector, and in the private sector, as well. In most of my work roles, I’ve worked in administrative office environments – many of which are connected to promoting awareness of and providing support to individuals with disabilities, and other minority groups.

I hold a diploma in Radio & Television Broadcasting (with Radio Specialization) from Conestoga College, and a BA in Sociology, from the University of Waterloo. I have completed a wide and diverse range of stand-alone, college-level courses as well.

While utilizing my knowledge, skills and abilities, talents and experiences, I want to continue to encourage and support individuals and organizations, in their efforts to connect.

I’m passionate about advocacy, and community participation. I believe strongly that our community – and the individuals within it – are made stronger and more cohesive, when we support and learn from one another, as we draw upon, and share our strengths, and our challenges.

I’ve worked as writer, an editor and a  proofreader, for a range of projects.

My work and skillsets include providing feedback to students (at the highschool, college and university levels) concerning academic writing, content development for a range of promotional materials, articles to help promote awareness of individuals with disabilities, and to bring important issues to the forefront.

I have written articles and human-interest pieces for a variety of not-for-profit, consumer and organizational publications. I have also written website content – including online content writing utilizing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Principles.

I have self-published three collections of verse, entitled “Unveiled in Verse” (2013), “Wordplay” (2014), and “No Stranger Times: Contemplation Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic” (2021).

I’ve completed additional personal and creative writing projects, as well.

I appreciate that you have taken the time to visit and read my Mindset blog.

And I hope that readers will find my experiences relatable – and that perhaps others will feel encouraged and welcome, to share and relate their own perspectives and life experiences, challenges and successes.