Sickle Cell Disease
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Resolutions vs. Goals: Why I Choose Progress Over Pressure
The New Year Question: Resolution or Goal? It’s the start of a new year, and like clockwork, many people have already made resolutions.And let’s be honest—many will also break them.Why? Because resolutions are usually rigid decisions, not flexible intentions. Let’s break it down: ✨ Resolution: A firm decision to do or not to do something.✨ Continue reading
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2020 Decade – Updated Welcome to My Phoenix Journey: Overcoming Obstacles with Resilience
Hello, and welcome to my blog! If you’re new here, I’m so glad you’ve joined me. If you’ve visited before, let me reintroduce myself and share a little more about the story behind my journey. Why “Phoenix”? The name “Phoenix” has deep personal meaning for me. In Greek mythology, the phoenix is a powerful symbol Continue reading
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P.A.I.N.: The Struggles You Can’t Google
When Pain Becomes a Lifestyle Pain—it’s not just physical. And it’s not just emotional.Sometimes it’s both.Sometimes, it’s all-consuming.And unless you’ve lived it—you just can’t understand it. A study once said that emotional pain lasts longer and is more deeply felt than physical pain.Having endured both, I can now say with confidence: That research is telling Continue reading
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Good Bye 2019
It’s been a while I have been able to sit and write something, but the hip journey had been difficult. I finally had my surgery on December 13, 2019. I spent my 47th birth in pain and about 8 hours discharged from the hospital, Thanksgiving was a lonely dinner and Christmas was spent sleeping the Continue reading
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A time to weep
It happens…… . A Time to Weep ‘It happens’—not quite the slogan I’ve seen on T-shirts, but near enough. It does. Soon enough, however, happy our circumstances, we will come down to earth with a bump. We have never cowered in terror with bombs exploding around us, or left our homes and possessions, our businesses Continue reading
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Vitalibis – “well Being”
Hemp and CBD have been in the news a lot lately. Many brands are chasing the money today, however people have been using hemp and cannabinoids for thousands of years for a variety of purposes: ropes, sails, paper, protein, wellness, soil remediation, etc. Three months ago I started using CBD oil and cream for my Continue reading
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Great Expectations…… A Time to Build
This is where I am now… “A time to build”. Here is my chance to re-build. I have this signature quote on all my emails which says “DEFEAT brings a LESSON, it gives a chance to REBUILD, a chance to start again, with the KNOWLEDGE of what DOES NOT WORK!“ I am not taking credit for it neither do I remember where I Continue reading
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Praise is what I do
Hello readers, I haven’t blogged in a while two main reason technology may be helpful when it’s functioning at it’s best but, when it isn’t can be a headache from a problem child. I had to take care of some technical difficulties. The other is pain, although not quite recovered from my shoulder replacement surgery, Continue reading
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The Day I Went to Sleep: My Sickle Cell Crisis and 6-Week Coma Journey
What Is a Coma? A coma is a deep state of unconsciousness where a person is alive but unresponsive. It’s often caused by severe illness or a brain injury. Most comas last between 2 to 4 weeks, but in rare cases, they extend longer. Mine lasted six. My Last Normal Day: September 5, 2014 I Continue reading
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Forced to Fly: When Discomfort Is God’s Way of Moving You
A Move That Didn’t Feel Like Home In 2023, I made a big move to Houston, Texas—hoping for a fresh start, new opportunities, and perhaps deeper connections with family. But here’s the truth: I’ve been miserable. At first, I thought it might just be the adjustment phase. Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was Continue reading
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Sickle Cell Anemia 101
What is Sickle Cell Anemia? Sickle cell anemia, or sickle cell disease (SCD), is a genetic disease of the red blood cells (RBCs). Normally, RBCs are shaped like discs, which gives them the flexibility to travel through even the smallest blood vessels. However, with this disease, the RBCs have an abnormal crescent shape resembling a Continue reading
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Recovery Week 8: The Waiting, the Weary, and the Word
Week 8 of shoulder surgery recovery brings frustration, faith, and slow progress. Andrea reflects on healing, the reality of pain, and strength found in Scripture. Happy Sabbath / Saturday ☀️ (This one’s short—but real.) We’re at Week 8 of recovery, and let me just say…This is taking way longer than I anticipated. My doctor warned Continue reading
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Teaching isn’t my job, it’s tied to my purpose.
Let me share my powerful journey from coma recovery to classroom presence, showing how God’s detours are often divine redirections—especially when it comes to our calling. Teaching Isn’t My Job—It’s My Purpose Tomorrow begins a new academic year in my district, and as I prepare, I’m feeling two things at once: excitement and uncertainty. Physically, Continue reading
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Never bring a horse to a tank fight
There is something about 2 am. I don’t think the devil takes much time off in the day but I know for sure he pulls double shifts at night. I can’t go back far enough to recall a day where I didn’t struggle with the terror by night that causes my stomach to flutter, my Continue reading
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“Scars & the Unapologetic Me: Learning to Love Myself Again”
Real confidence isn’t about perfection—it’s about loving yourself through the scars. In this deeply personal reflection, Andrea shares her journey of rediscovery, faith, and reclaiming self-love unapologetically. Scars & the Unapologetic Me “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…”— Ephesians 6:11-12 I’ve Continue reading
About Me
I LIVE LOVE LAUGH LEARN – the only way I know how to survive this life! I am a free-spirited, independent, or uninhibited person. I began this blogging journey years ago for sharing my thoughts on everyday life. Since then, so much has happened including me being in a coma because of Sickle Cell with brain damage and extreme trials in life. I am still struggling, but I feel someone can be motivated through my journey, thoughts, feelings, and life.
Phoenix: Live Love Laugh 