I was looking back and realized it’s been a long time since I posted so I thought I would take the time to recap on how 2025 has treated me. I think you will be shocked!
As far as my health goes, I still have Myasthenia Gravis – no remission for this chick – but that is perfectly fine. When I have struggles it’s in those times I can feel God’s presence and that is all that matters. If I had not struggled these last 9 years I cannot imagine where I would be. Walking with Jesus and having that relationship is the most important thing to me. When you have a one on one relationship with The Lord everything else just falls into place. Depending on Him for everything (somedays it is literally for each breath) has completely changed my perspective. I’ve always heard I am not of this world and I know exactly what that means.
As for a health update, I continue to do my infusions weekly of Gamunex C. This is a subcutaneous infusion with a spring fed pump. It takes about an hour and a half to do each Tuesday evening. Don’t call me Tuesday evenings because I am liable to tell you anything and NOT remember it. I have to premedicate with Benadryl and I am a light weight. I get giggly and talk out of my head. I have been on the phone with my mama and she said “Let me let you go and enjoy your Benadryl”. The day after my infusion I have a hung over feeling and a nagging headache. Grumpy describes me very well on Wednesday mornings but I usually snap out of it by that evening. The infusions are antibodies so my body will not respond to any illnesses that I may be exposed to. I am continuing to work from home because exposure to anything throws me for a loop! Praise God, I have not been in the hospital since 2020! I am trying to keep the streak going. Most people are shocked when I say between June 2016 & March 2020 I was hospitalized 29 times and all but 4 required assisted ventilation. My pocketbook likes the lack of hospital stays as well.
With the stability of the MG I have ventured out and joined a gym. This was not an overnight decision. I spent 1 year cleaning up my eating. I eat all organic products and am mostly off sugar. I will cheat occasionally but most store bought things are overly sweet. My sweet treats are usually home made. After losing 30 pounds – in a year – I started adding movement. As you know with MG, repetitive movement is what causes issues so something simple as walking a long distance can cause my legs to stop working. I started out literally walking 5 minutes and added to the time usually every 2-3 weeks. I would take 2 steps forward and 3 steps back it seemed. But due to the hard head and stubbornness that I was born with, I built up to 1 hour of constant motion without any MG issues. This took a year as well to accomplish.
In September for my 56th birthday I joined a gym and started doing trainer let workouts 4 days a week. Most days have been good. I have more energy and feel better. The strength I have gained is incredible. The other day I did squats with 50 pounds of weights on my shoulders. This coming from the person who could not even use weights in September! The gym I joined is new here in Lincolnton. The Linc Collective, the trainers have been so supportive and helpful to me. I could not do this without Lauren, Asia, Rose and Peyton! If you don’t think you can do it, you can. Start small, have NO expectations and you will be surprised at what you can do. I have made so many new friends at 5am workouts. I didn’t even know I could be pleasant at that time. HAHA!
As far as family updates go, we are planning a wedding this April for our son, Adam. He proposed to Mallory in March. She is absolutely precious and will participate in whatever family activity we have going. She has learned to process a deer, make sausage and wants cows as bad as me! She is already a part of our family, we just can’t wait for her to have our last name! Our daughter Kathryn is still teaching. She moved up a few grades last year so she is teaching 8th/9th grade math at Davidson Fine Arts in Augusta. Her boyfriend Chase is one of our favorites too. We love for them to bring their two dogs to the farm. I couldn’t ask for better partners for our children. It is wonderful to see them so happy in their lives.
2025 marked a huge milestone for Tal and myself. December 1st marked our 35 wedding anniversary – whodathunk? Time has certainly flown by, most days, for the two of us. Bless him, Tal still looks at me like the 19 year old he first met. I tell him all the time I need to look through his eyes sometimes. The gray hair and wrinkles are blocking my view, HA! I figured everyone knew that we were living on the farm full time. 40 acres is a lot to keep up with! We are hoping to do renovations on the house soon -it took a hit from Hurricane Helene. We had a new roof put on the original part of the house and are hoping to get the front porch replaced soon. We love living in this little house although I am ready for a few amenities that we don’t currently have AND a bigger kitchen. If you know you know, it’s a one butt kitchen. I have a few friends and family that can danced around with me in it and we get the cooking and cleaning accomplished. It was no small feat! HAHA!
As for 2026, this morning over our coffee Tal & I talked about goals that we want to set for this year. He has none (need an eye roll emoji here). I would like to learn to bake bread so that I don’t have to buy it in the store. That is the only over processed thing I buy. I would also like to have defined muscles. I know I am working on it but I want exercise to be a part of my daily routine. As the trainers at the GYM say, keep moving!
It is my prayer for you that 2026 brings you happiness. I read the Bible all the way through in 2025 for the second time. I challenge you to find a daily devotional, spend 15-20 minutes with The Lord everyday. It will may life so much smoother. That peace that only God can give will be nothing short of miraculous. Pray for your family and friends, I know I appreciate all of the prayers you have prayed for me. It’s why I am still here and I will NEVER forget them.
~Happy New Year and much love~ Melynda
Thank you for your prayers ! Love you , Sonia