New Year – Isaiah Jacobs

Charcot-Marie-Tooth: New Year’s Resolutions?

“Beloved,

I pray that all may go well with you

and that you may be in good health,

as it goes well with your soul.”
– 3 John 1:2

Another year has passed faster than I anticipated. And it didn’t seem to be that fast when I was going through the year, but here we seventeen days into the beginning of another new year. Every once in a while, a buddy will text me, “Wow! The week has gone by so fast!” More recently, “A few more days of 2023 to go.” I know how he feels, though I think time goes faster for him since he’s older than me.

2023 was my most challenging year yet, though it had some great aspects or parts along the way. At this time of year, I like to reflect on what I accomplished or didn’t accomplish over the past year. Also, what was fun and challenging, and where was I successful? To be honest, I can be pretty hard on myself. Not because I have low self-esteem or anything like that, but because I want to always be my best. Also, there isn’t much point in reflection if you aren’t truthful with yourself.

The year started out with problems relating to my medications. In 2022, I asked my Nurse Practitioner if she knew why I was taking certain medications. She didn’t, so I discussed stepping down from one medication. She was fine with that so I followed the recommended routine to do it. While stepping down, I didn’t notice any difference with me so I continued planning to quit taking it.

The new year 2023, brought a prescriptions refill faux pas between the doctor’s office and my prescription company. One said the other had requested a refill when in actuality, neither knew what the other did. I ended up unintentionally stepping down from these medications too.

About this time, I discovered a holistic product that could help me with pain and the neurological issues associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). I was excited about it because I prefer taking holistic products over medications and want to try that before taking a new prescription.

Since I had stepped down from another medication years ago, I was hoping that stepping down from these three prescriptions would be as successful. However, that wasn’t the case. In March 2023, everything came crashing down on me. I was having breakfast at a local restaurant with a buddy when I started feeling the worst I had ever felt. I wasn’t in danger of anything except that I felt horrible with my neurological system acting crazy. Long story short, I returned to the three medications, which were doing a great job with my neurological system. Now, I know what the medications do!

A highlight of 2023 was in February when I began working out at a local wellness center. I met a personal trainer who is a Christian. She quickly agreed with my belief to “believe the impossible.” My belief is if God wants me stronger and healthier, He will help me accomplish it. Yes, I have to do all the work but He will help me reach goals that otherwise I could miss. I spent the year working on an exercise routine with weights, a few other exercises, and a deep water aerobics routine. By year’s end, I had raised the weights on the machines by ten pounds!

I ended 2023 with an interesting journey. I learned that I had injured myself somewhere along life’s way when I was having fun. I have no idea what I did to cause it. This was proof that is often difficult for someone with CMT to know they hurt themselves. I sought medical help with it, which led to discovering another health problem existed. While a bit challenging, God brought all of this together in a way that blessed me, as it didn’t require a hospital visit.

My goals for 2024? Exercise a bit more. I plan to increase my weight-lifting by at least 10 more pounds or more, while the deep water aerobics will probably stay about the same. Last year, I took a class on the “Theology of Escathology” through a local college and enjoyed every minute of it. I am looking to take more classes like that this year. No, I am not looking to be a theologian but to learn more about God and my faith.

I heard on the radio recently about a lady who doesn’t believe in making New Year’s Resolutions. The word “resolutions” was too harsh and she often wasn’t successful. Instead, she “amends” whatever she thinks needs to be improved. I like that idea. I am going to “amend” certain things in my life in 2024 hoping to be successful.

Do you have any goals for 2024? Please share them in the comments below.

May you have a blessed 2024!

Charcot-Marie-Tooth: Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

“A Christmas Tree Lights the Night”
(C) Photo by Tim Mossholder

As it seems to be the usual routine for me when the year is coming to an end, the last three months of 2023 were unbelievably busy. I don’t know how I ever worked in an office and got anything done, as I wouldn’t have had time these last few months.

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Mine were nice and quiet- my favorite way to spend a day. The holiday season started with a Thanksgiving dinner at the Skyland Restaurant in the Shenandoah National Park. We were joined by my best friend Ed, whom I met in my college years. My wife, a family friend who didn’t make it this year, and I will probably make this our traditional Thanksgiving dinner. It would be awesome if Ed got to join us, too. After we ate, we drove the Skyline Drive from the restaurant to the Harrisonburg area and returned home. The solace of nature is a blessing even in the winter months.

Ed came to visit the week before Thanksgiving. We spent the week roaming Skyline Drive and a bit of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We’d pull off at various overlooks to enjoy the view. While driving, we chatted about our college days and wondered about whatever happened to this or that person. Ed is the type of friend everyone with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), or any other disability for that matter, wants. He doesn’t let my disability prevent us from doing stuff and having fun. On numerous occasions, he would give me a helping hand as he knew the terrain coming up was a bit challenging. Also, when CMT frustrates me with its new antics, I can chat with him as much as I need. He’s a very good listener and has often provided God’s Words of Wisdom just as I needed it without being preachy.

Christmas was a little different this year. My wife and I bought a new Christmas tree and ornaments. The one we have is buried somewhere in the garage, along with ornaments and decorations that are older than civilization itself. I enjoy decorating for the season, however, I do not relish the idea of putting an artificial tree together followed by stringing lights around making it look balanced and nice. Oh, and beautiful, too. I will never be like a buddy of mine who has an enormous tree and thousands of decorations. Though it looks great, it’s too much. My wife and I exchanged gifts the old-fashioned way this year. They were wrapped, placed under the tree, and opened in a celebratory fashion on Christmas. It was a nice way to celebrate the Birth of Jesus.

We are still working on the new tradition as our last living family member went on to heaven, so it’s now the two of us. We invited a friend to join us and went to Founding Farmer’s restaurant in Northern Virginia for our Christmas dinner. Our friend was great company and helped make the celebration more fun. I got to sit in the backseat of our car while my wife drove and our friend rode shotgun. Worked great for me as I enjoyed looking out the window and thanking God when we left suburbia and returned to the country!

A few days after New Year’s, I got to spend a few hours with a young man I call my grandson; more about that in a later post. We had breakfast at a local Chick-fil-A and talked for a few hours. He is one of those guys who is very popular, has a large family, and always has something to do somewhere with someone at any given time of any day of the entire calendar year. So, I cherish the few hours he can squeeze in to spend with me. It’s been an amazing journey to watch what started out as a “joke” or having fun with the age difference between us to become great friends, something God has definitely been in the middle of pulling together.

Every year, I think that I will spend the holiday season differently by celebrating the birth of Jesus by attending various church events, going for a drive to enjoy Christmas lights, or doing something special that makes the season fun. No sooner have I thought it and the season is gone… again.

I hope yours was fun. Here’s to a great 2024!

Happy New Year! Resolutions?

I am a little late this year with my New Year’s post, having had several life events come up. However, there are a few things I would like to share so I decided to publish it anyway.

I rarely look forward to New Year’s Day because it means the month of January has started and February is not far behind. Traditionally, these two months bring colder weather, ice, and snowstorms. Since I live in a new area now, I’m not sure what weather to expect this season. I understand living close to the mountains will mean a colder and snowier winter.

Do you make resolutions for the New Year? I do. Every year that I can remember, which admittedly is limited since at my age I have a hard time remembering yesterday, I have made New Year’s Resolutions.

Why do I make New Year’s resolutions? The main is the reason is that it provides me a goal to reach in the coming months. I write them down so I can refer to them throughout the year and do a mid-year evaluation. Also, January 1 is a great place to start.

A secret to success when dealing with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is this: By making resolutions, writing them down, and having them available throughout the year, you will be more likely to succeed even in your exhausting moments. I know for me, when the exhaustion hits, I feel like giving up. By focusing on my resolutions, I keep focused and don’t give up.

My first and foremost resolution is to learn more about God, continue attending church every week, studying, and reading the Bible. Following through with this resolution will feed the spiritual side of me throughout the year. A good spirit is a healthy one.

My second resolution is to continue loving my wife and furry kids throughout the year. I need to show them expressions of love as well as take care of myself and my responsibilities. Sometimes, I get very busy with chores and don’t always remember to show love to them. Every once in a while, I forget, or skip, walking my dog as well as show her affection. I’ll focus on sharing love first, chores later.

A third resolution which I renew every year is to focus on fighting CMT as best that I can. Basically, this means I will keep doing the exercise programs which worked for me over the last year. The program I developed has been successful in keeping me one step ahead of the CMT progression.

This year, I am adding a new resolution. Last year, I returned to my hobby of reading. I was surprised when I realized that it’s been quite some time since I read a book. I managed to read four books by year’s end along with numerous railfanning magazines about railroad history. My chiropractor mentioned that reading is a very good habit for a CMT patient to do. Apparently, the nerves which CMT effect, and lead to problems in our extremities, can possibly affect the brain too. I didn’t know that and haven’t read about it yet. However, if simply reading is going to help, why not?

A final note: When I make resolutions, I do my absolute best to follow through with them. However, stuff happens which may interfere with my goals. Instead of beating myself up or considering myself a failure, I pick up where I left off and go from there. Failure would be completely abandoning the goals.

I hope you have an awesome 2022!