We Gallop Away

I close my eyes,
she comes to me;
we gallop away,
above the trees.

On my pony's back
I shall fly;
above the clouds,
away in the sky.

We go to a place
where I'm not sick:
no pills, no pain;
no needles' prick.

We stay awhile,
then I must go.
I know in my heart
she loves me so.

We will fly again
another day.
I wait for her;
she waits for me.

Heaven on Earth

I start every day and end every day by checking in on all of my Lyme friends to see how they are doing. Unless you spend a lot of time around someone with Lyme disease, you can't imagine the physical and mental pain that it causes. It is so easy to lose hope when you are sick day after day, and I really worry about my Lyme friends. I hope this post helps all of you out there with Lyme disease to remember that you will get better and that there are amazing things waiting just around the corner for you, too!

Last Saturday, as many of you know, my dream came true and I found my equine soul mate. While I did have one day where I sent my friend a panicked email along the lines of "What have I done; I'm too sick to take care of a horse!",  I really feel with all my heart that getting this horse was the right thing to do. Owning a horse and struggling with chronic illness is going to be a challenge, but it has already given me so much joy after only one week.

My horse is boarded at a barn about 10 minutes away from where I live. The owners feed and water and keep a close watch on all of the horses. Anytime I can't make it out to the barn, I know my horse is in good hands. The barn owners always go above and beyond (I boarded my previous horse with them for five years) and I am so blessed to have found such an amazing home for my precious new horse, Fjóla.

Peekaboo! 

Thanks to my dear, understanding hubby, who graciously became a single father this week so I could spend every possible moment together with my new horse, I managed to make it to the barn every day but one this week, and with the level of exhaustion I felt  (plus being in the middle of a major heat wave here), that is pretty impressive.

I didn't anticipate the impact Fjóla would have on me so quickly. The thought of that beautiful horse--so excited to see me already, after only one week together--makes every day that I can possibly make it to the barn worth every bit of the fight that it takes to get to her. And she has shown me after such a short time together that she--the pony who went almost entirely unhandled for all but the last half a year--was waiting for someone just like me her whole life. She is the most loving, kind, affectionate, curious and laid back horse I've ever met! It just goes to show you that the dreams that you have to fight the hardest for are truly heaven on earth!
         

The Best Medicine

I had quite a busy weekend bringing my new horse, Fjóla, home and spending pretty much every waking hour (Lyme disease permitting) at the barn. Heat plus Lyme disease plus overdoing it equals bad news! Yesterday, I had my belly dancing class, and I thought it would be good for me, but I had to leave early. It was just too much on top of my completely exhausted body. I don't know how I made it home! I was out of commission for the rest of the evening.

This morning, however, I woke up feeling great and full of energy. I was able to get lots of things done around the house. I had a Lyme crash around lunch time, but I put on a movie for the kids and was able to lay down and it passed quickly. I'm feeling pretty good right now, and I'm just taking it easy and trying not to push myself too hard.

One week from today, I go back to my Lyme doctor, who I presume will be shaking things up with my regular meds--meaning its quite likely that I'll be knocked on my butt for a bit. I have a few new symptoms and I'm wondering if my Babesia infection is stepping down and letting the next co-infection step up to bat.

One thing is for sure: There's a super cute little Icelandic horse waiting at the barn just for me and if that's not good medicine in helping me fight Lyme disease, I don't know what is! I couldn't have found a better medicine! Maybe I should nickname her Doxycycline (an antibiotic commonly used to treat Lyme disease).

The Perfect Day

Fjóla and Aly: Our first day together

Today, my new horse came home! I floated through the entire day in a dreamlike state. She is such an amazing, calm and laid back horse--she walked right off the trailer like she'd been there a million times before. This horse is unflappable! She is truly something special. Of course, I am biased...

When I got home from the barn, I came downstairs and noticed that my husband had left on NPR downstairs. Guess what was playing on the radio? I'll give you a hint: It was the name of yesterday's blog post! And the song was playing right at this part: Somewhere, over the rainbow--bluebirds sing; and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true!

What a perfect end to a perfect day!

Somewhere, Over the Rainbow

(click here for picture credit)

"Somewhere, over the rainbow
Bluebirds sing;
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true."







In two weeks, I will hit the one year anniversary of my diagnosis of late stage Lyme disease. I have made unbelievable progress over the course of the year. I've gone from being almost totally bedridden to being able to function again. Some days I can function close to about 90% of what I used to. My pain levels are much more manageable now. I do have good days and bad days, but I can take care of my kids again, I can drive again and I can do many of things that I love to do again.

I've gone through some pretty dark days, but all through my fight, I never let go of my dream of owning another horse since I lost my beloved horse, Shiloh, nearly a year ago to a blood clot. It was so hard to admit that I just wasn't well enough to jump back into that kind of lifestyle. 

Yet now, after nearly a year of treatment, I'm finally strong enough and in a good place to pick up my dream again. I am so excited to announce that I have found my absolute dream horse and she is coming home tomorrow!

Indroducing: Fjóla (click for pronunciation), my new Icelandic horse!

I know that the challenge of owning a horse again is going to be tough while I continue to battle Lyme disease. I still have a lot of symptoms and I still have a long road to recovery. But my undying passion for horses has sustained me through the best of times and the worst of times. When the pain of Lyme disease overcomes me, my mind finds respite in dreaming of horses. When I struggle with the burden of depression from chronic illness, my sorrow turns to laughter at the barn. On the darkest days, I close my eyes and fly away from the pain on the back of my dream pony.

Tomorrow, my equine soul mate comes home. I could not have asked for a more perfect match, given the nature of my illness. Her laid back attitude and affectionate nature are everything I could have dreamed of and more. I am the luckiest girl in the world! I have fought so incredibly hard to turn this dream into a reality. Thank you so much to all my incredible friends and family who helped make this possible! And an extra, extra special thanks to my beloved Nana, who is cheering me on from heaven!

Fjóla, I cannot wait for the adventures we are going to have together! I've waited my whole life for a horse just like you. You are truly my dream come true. <3