I got a job!!!!

Finally after I don’t know how many hundred’s of applications I put out into the world I managed to lock down a job. I am the new Production “Manager” at a local large scale Nursery. From what I can tell I will be overseeing 8-9 workers who will be running an assembly line of potting soil, pots, and plants.

As thrilled as I am for this endeavor I am also very nervous, this job requires everything a person like me shouldn’t be doing.

-Standing all day – Repeated squatting and lifting – Working with machinery – Running around doing everything and anything that needs to be done to keep the assembly line running.

I am nervous for all the obvious reasons. . . Can I physically do this job, How long can I fight off pre-syncope, Am I going to make a fool of myself passing out, What happens when it gets wicked hot this summer and my symptoms get worse, Will they ask me to leave (Fire me), If I get fired or have to forfeit my job because of my health will that affect future recommendations for other jobs? . . . . . . . . . . . . . The list goes on and on and on.

Why don’t I just get a desk job you ask? Oh believe me I’ve applied for gosh knows how many but I don’t qualify for the positions because I have no experience in them and my degree is so far off the mark from what they are looking for.

During my first interview I was asked, “Can you be on your feet all day?” and I responded very truthfully, “As long as I keep moving, I can’t stand in one place for too long.”

During my second interview the owner of the company brings up my response to the first interviewer about this question and asks for a further explanation. I took a deep breath and said to him, “This is where most employees decide they no longer want to hire me. . . I have something called Dysautonomia, basically gravity and I aren’t friends. It pulls my blood down and my heart can’t pump it back up all the time.”

He cuts me off and says in a very confused tone, “Dys-auto-what? And what happens?”

I felt like you could fry an egg on my face, my face was so hot and bright red as I was attempting to play this condition as cool as I could and not alarm my potential employer.

“When my heart can’t pump the blood back up your bodies natural reaction is to make you fall down. It doesn’t happen very often, and as long as I keep moving and keep my blood flowing I can avoid the worst of it. It’s no big deal.”

I felt that avoiding the words, “Pass out” “Condition” “Disease” “No-one can fix it” etc were all good things to keep to myself.



He then asked me to spell D.y.s.a.u.t.o.n.o.m.i.n.a for him as he wrote it down to research when I had gone.

I figured my health would blow this job for me as well. Shockingly I received a phone call Thursday asking if I wanted to start on Monday morning.

I think they are still apprehensive about hiring me but are willing to give me a shot.

So tomorrow I am going to show up at eight o’clock and do my best, work my hardest and have a huge smile on my face because I am grateful I have this opportunity.

On a happier note, I am laying in bed alone downstairs with a racing, pounding, painful, fluttery heart because I pushed myself too far today, but for such a wonderful reason!

This morning my husband let me sleep in and then asked if I would like to go to breakfast with him at the local diner before we started our Sunday afternoon. I thought it sounded wonderful and slowly made my

way to the shower and too my time getting ready because I haven’t been the strongest this weekend.

When we got down to the diner he raced around to open my car door and as I stood up I hear from behind me. “HAPPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!” (which isn’t until Wednesday) in a voice I think I know but couldn’t possibly be hearing. As I turn around I see one of my best friends with her arms out stretched racing towards me. I instantly started to tear up and gave her the biggest hug! I haven’t seen her since September because we no longer live in the same state. She and her boyfriend had been on the road to surprise me since 5:45am. I turned to my husband and told him I couldn’t believe he let me sleep in!!!! They had been waiting in the diner parking lot for 45mins and I was home taking my sweet time! I felt so bad hahaha.

We had a fantastic day of food, shopping, and laughing together. We always have a great time when the four of us are together.

I did my best to hide how hard of a time I was having walking around the stores looking at everything, but it was all worth it!

Well, we are inching closer to my appointment with the Neurologist at Dartmouth on March18th.

I’m excited and interested to hear what this doctor I’ve had to wait four months to see will have to say. Although at the same time I’m trying not to get my hopes up too high.

OH! I got to do the coolest thing last weekend with my brother, his girlfriend and Mike. We went to see the most incredible Ice-Castles!! So I thought I’d share our picture from the night.