Help Jana in the fight for her health!

From Jana: I quit drinking on Nov. 18. That should tell those that know me things must be pretty bad.

I was trying to get by on my own, but life keeps handing me lemons with no lemonade. I figure it's time to swallow my pride and put my inability to ask for help aside.

Shortest version is my drinking caught up with me after 35 years. And then myriad bad things happened.

Extended remix: I got really sick a week before Thanksgiving. Finally went to the hospital Thanksgiving Day, as Simpson yellow is not my color. My liver is extremely angry. I have ascites, which is generally caused by drinking, thus cirrhosis. I had no idea I was sick. Actually, really sick.

I got pneumonia in December. Shingles in January. More liver issues put me back in the hospital in March.

Then in early June, I injured my back. I went to the ER again, and surprise! I have a triple compression fracture in my lower spine. They thought I'd been in a car crash or fall. Nope. Just lucky, I guess. No pain meds allowed because of my angry liver.

A common complication of ascites is a dangerous bacterial infection of the abdominal fluid. So, naturally, I recently got that. I was at Lutheran General for a month and now I'm at Northwestern.

Because I quit drinking cold turkey (yes, really!), I'm an excellent candidate for the transplant list. The medical staff is helping that happen. Could be months, years, never. There's no way to tell.

The big downside of all this is I can't work. Can't drive. Can't really do anything but wait and heal. I'm trying for disability, but it takes a ridiculous amount of time to be approved. Until then, I'm just going further into nonpayment everywhere.

So, I'll be OK. My family and some close friends I let in have been amazing. I'm slowly being put back together. One day at a time.

If nothing more, have a drink on me, but keep it in moderation. And if you can, get your Shingles shots! You never know what hand you're about to be dealt!

Jana