AVN
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Hey You! Welcome to My Beautiful Mess.
Life threw a lot at me — a coma, sickle cell, brain damage, loss, and more — but guess what?I’m still standing. Still laughing. Still loving life when I can. This blog is where I keep it real: the good, the bad, the ugly cries… and the small wins (like free panties and finding a Continue reading
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I’ve Fallen and Can’t Get Up… Again (Well, Almost)
Sunday, April 2702025 Good day, subscribers. Remember that bathroom update I shared a while ago? (You can catch up here if you missed it.)Well, the journey continues… You see, my house is a bit older — not brand-new like my first home — and I’ve been slowly working on little upgrades to make it feel Continue reading
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Depression, Up Close.
A bottomless pit Before my stroke, I didn’t truly understand what depression was. For the first six years afterward, I even denied I had it. I think, in part, because I was consumed by constant physical pain—bouncing from one joint replacement surgery to another, never fully healing before another part of me gave out. There Continue reading
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Easter Weekend
Easter Weekend Reflections: Traveling, Traditions & Trying Again I kicked off my Easter weekend adventure early Thursday morning by boarding the Amtrak train headed to Jacksonville, NC—or technically, to Wilson, NC. That stop was closer to my cousin’s job, and she was waiting there with open arms. This was a big moment for me: my Continue reading
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A Journey of Faith and Family
This Thursday, I’ll be boarding a solo train ride—my first trip alone since 2020. And yes, I know that may sound questionable to some. Normally, this blog would be an enthusiastic solo trip but taking into consideration an active brain disability, I’m taking every step with faith. I’ve already started writing a blog on the Continue reading
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Spring Has Sprung – A Season of Transition and Testimony
It’s been cloudy and rainy for what feels like forever—like the sky can’t quite make up its mind. The weather has danced between gloomy and gentle, mirroring the ebb and flow of my own spirit. I haven’t had many chances lately to be still, to breathe deeply, or to be mindful. Still, Spring has always Continue reading
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Chapter 52
Chapter 52: A Journey Back to Where It All Began I made it. And I’m standing—grateful, humbled, and blessed—right where it all began. After years of setbacks, surgeries, and what often felt like an endless uphill climb, I’m here. Not just surviving, but celebrating Chapter 52 of my life. And with every breath, I carry 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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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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“Shoulder Replacement Recovery: Weeks 5–6, Muscle Pain, and Learning to Slow Down”
At six weeks post shoulder replacement, I’m still in pain, still pushing through physical therapy, and now preparing for a second surgery—my hip replacement. Here’s what recovery looks like when life refuses to pause. Weeks 5 & 6: Recovery, Real Talk, and Pain Management Let me start by saying:I wanted to write this last week—week Continue reading
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“Fascination with the Body: My Sickle Cell Journey and Discovering Avascular Necrosis”
Living with Sickle Cell Disease has shown me how remarkable the human body is—and how faith, persistence, and the right questions uncovered years of hidden damage. Here’s my AVN timeline and what I’ve learned about pain, patience, and healing. Introduction: The Body Is a Fascinating Map Part 1: The Start of the Pain – 2016–2017 Continue reading
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Post-Op Recovery with Sickle Cell: My First 14 Days After Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Follow my 14-day journey after left shoulder replacement surgery while living with sickle cell disease. From nerve blocks to physical therapy, here’s how I’m navigating pain, recovery, and daily challenges with determination and faith. Post-Op Reality: What You Don’t See Behind the Smile The photo above was taken just after surgery.I know—I’m smiling. But don’t Continue reading
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I Wish Healthcare Providers Would Listen
One thing I wish healthcare providers would truly understand is this:Sometimes, doing the job isn’t enough—you have to listen to the patient too. As someone living with a chronic blood-related disease, I already face more than my share of battles.But one of the parts I absolutely hate the most?Being a hard stick. My veins are 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 