I recently reconnected with an old high school friend on Facebook. We went to the same Catholic girls school. Our lockers were fairly close to each other and we shared the same home room for a couple of years. She was a terrific volleyball player.
We lost touch over the years, though another high school friend who stayed put in our northern Ontario town, gave me periodic updates on how and what she was doing.
When I was recently in Ethiopia, she emailed me to let me know her daughter was working at a medical clinic in Uganda.
Over the past few weeks, her status updates have grown increasingly more concerning. She's mentioned a variety of medical appointments, a diagnosis and a pre-op booking. She thanked all her pals for their support.
So yesterday I emailed her privately to say that while I didn't know what was going on, I hoped it wasn't serious and I was sending her my best wishes.
Turns out it's serious. Very serious.
After having felt distinctly unwell for the past 6 months -- pins and needles, frozen to the bone -- she received a diagnosis of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in February. It's osteoarthritis in the neck that causes pressure on the nerves and the blood supply.
Since her diagnosis in February, her symptoms are progressing.
She can't straighten the baby finger in her hand and has had an acute disk rupture in her back. Movement is becoming nearly impossible.
After consulting a neurologist in Toronto, she learned that if she didn't have surgery, she'd be paralyzed.
She wrote, "One thing I have learned through all of this is that you truly never know when your quality of life will be altered, so treasure your good health while you have it."
Her surgery is today.
Please turn your eyes upwards our outwards and say a little prayer for Robin.
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