In the kitchen

fresh cilantro, ginger root, limes, mango, yellow heirloom tomato, garlic, vidalia onion, eggplant, crook neck squash, avocado, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, bamboo rice, basmati rice, red kidney beans, satsuma, extra sharp cheddar, havarti cheese, cucumber, red seedless grapes, figs, cashews, papaya, tikka masala sauce, chocolate, espresso, greek yogurt...
santoku knife, microplane, immersion blender, ginger grater, mango pitter, non-stick wok...

These are a few of my favorite things in my kitchen. Ingredients and tools I use often- until last year. Last year when I couldn't eat anything more than vegetable broth for several months- when a lifetime of "stomach issues" culminated into a months long, drawn out, invasive search for what ailed me because it could no longer be ignored. The verdict- I no longer have a gall bladder and I can no longer can eat gluten. I have to take 1 little pill a day. I have to read labels on anything I buy that's processed. I am a pain in the ass to eat out with ((mostly)vegetarian + gluten free = nightmare dinner companion) BUT, I can eat without pain and without consequence, so as annoying as I am to others, I am happy. I haven't missed what I can't have.

So what did I learn?
1. Don't put off taking care of yourself. I've never been one to go to doctors, so I am lucky to get a clean bill of health after all of this (or as my surgeon said, "You have the insides of a 16 year old!")- I plan to keep it that way.
2. I have an amazingly understanding and supportive workplace- filled with caring people who don't just see me as a title.
3. I was reminded that I have the best family anyone could hope for. My parents and M propped me up- at times literally. They took care of me during all the procedures and tests, drove me to appointments, held my hand when all I could do was cry, and didn't flinch when all I could do was vent. Sometimes, they jauntily bowed to surgeons and nurses as they left the room to get me to laugh- ok, only one of them did that. They softly cheered me on and grilled doctors when I didn't have any fight left in me. I learned the importance of family at a very young age, but I've always been fiercely independent. I never thought a day would come when I could not fight my own fight, but damned if it didn't and without skipping a beat, my family stepped right in and handled it.
4. Know a good general surgeon- my surgery was given a 3-4% chance of fixing the problems because all previous tests and procedures came out fine. After the doc got in there, he saw I had a duct that basically drains the gall bladder that was 5 times longer than normal- that didn't show up on ultrasounds, ct scans, a Hida scan, or any bloodwork. If he weren't willing to take a gander despite the odds, I'd still be sick now. I paid him back- I allowed one of the student surgeons to practice removing stitches on me.

Have a happy and healthy new year- I plan to. :)