I have a hypothesis that's been brewing for the past decade. Something that began to form while in the trenches of fertility treatments and I've been slowly probing for with each new physician appointment for establishing care or following a period of illness. For years, this hypothesis has been percolating in the mind, surfacing in moments for tweaking and adding supporting facts, but recent changes with my new position and combined health issues have brought it screaming to the forefront. Meaning it's time to share.
A few months ago, I came into possession of a new book by Matt Richtel titled "An Elegant Defense." For anyone that is science inclined but finds the jargon overwhelming, Mr. Richtel does a nice job of breaking down the history behind understanding the immune system and the role it plays in keeping us healthy. But the part that had me stopping to think were the stories of the patients Mr. Richtel interviewed, particularly the ones about two women who have autoimmune disorders, laying out the case for who their own bodies defenses were betraying them. And as I read their stories and all they had experienced, I couldn't help but notice the parallels for all I've been living with.
I'm currently in the middle of the worst hemorrhoid flare I've ever experienced. Hemorrhoids aren't a new thing for me, but 3 years ago mine were exacerbated to the level that surgery was first something my medical professionals were willing to consider. Despite this, due to continual warnings about how painful this surgery was, I didn't pursue surgery and have been in maintenance mode, using common techniques in order to get through flares. The problem is, my hemorrhoids don't behave the way most medical professionals commonly encounter, being triggered by changes in hormones (read they tend to crop up around my period) and me having extreme cases following a period of bodily stress or extreme illness. In short, I think they are immune-related, which hasn't been well received.
Last Monday, I hit the wall with pain and after vomiting due to how extreme it was, I made an appointment to see someone at my PCPs office. Unable to sit for any period of time, I decided I was done sugar-coating my concerns and made it clear to the nurse practitioner that I wasn't leaving without a referral to a gastroenterologist and some seriously strong meds.
At the end of the appointment, despite being visibly horrified from the examination at the state my body was in, she began to warn me about how painful hemorrhoidectomy is. And that's when I looked her in the eyes and told her about all the research that showed medical professionals routinely downgraded women's health due to not believing their patients about symptoms and pain levels. I told her how disappointed I was that my pain was continually being downgraded, leaving me frustrated that I had to fight in order to be taken seriously. As this NP's face turned bright-red, it was clear that this was not something she had ever considered, leaving her to stop fighting and instead upgrade my referral to urgent.
So what does all of this have to do with my hypothesis? Well, I've long believed that the underlying cause for my infertility is an autoimmune condition. One that medicine is unable to diagnose because we currently have not advanced to the point that it is detectable. And this is fueled by a growing belief that many in this community have undiagnosed immune issues. There is growing evidence that endometriosis is linked with immunity and that there's also a connection with PCOS and I've long suspected that premature menopause and diminished ovarian reserve also have an immune link.
What all of this has to do with me now is I believe that I have irritable bowel syndrome and that it's gone undiagnosed for a number of years. I'm not expecting a silver bullet with this, especially given that all test results tend to come back normal. But fueled with new knowledge about the immune system (I'm not an immunologist, so this has taken a bit) as well as some patient case studies, I now have sufficient information to make a case with the GI I'll be seeing this next week.
Because my hypothesis is that my infertility and my current flare aren't separate issues, but instead part of the same issue that has long been undetected, all pointing to issues with my immune system. And I firmly believe that many who receive an infertility diagnosis are facing the same systemic problem.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Monday, October 7, 2019
#Microblog Mondays: The new routine
It started with Jaxson running away from home. More specifically, sneaking out the front door. I didn't realize he was missing until 3 am when Daisy was calling for the birds without him joining her in a duet of meowing.
20 hours later I was curled up on the couch, sobbing uncontrollably while Daisy tried to calm me down and Grey gently consoled me. I was convinced my beloved cat of 15+ years was dead, eaten by a coyote/bit by a rattlesnake and somewhere in a ditch.
10 minutes later I would find him trying to sneak a meal from the cat food I left out for him on the front stoop, creeping low so as not to attract any attention from us. Happy, smelling of earth and no regrets.
The result from this incident was 2 elderly cats who decided that their days as indoor-exclusive animals were over and, hence, began a 5 am campaign to be let outside. After 16 years, they've both become skilled at maximizing the acoustics from a housing structure, allowing their howls to carry in a manner that mirrors surround sound. This combined with years of stress, a new home setting that was generally peaceful, a backyard with a 7 ft fence, and an invasion of birds into said backyard led to a drastic decision I never expected to make.
I let them out.
And now, for 2 hours every morning, there's amazing silence. Combined with insanely happy felines. Grey and I can't remember the last time we slept this well.
It hasn't been all sunshine and roses. Jaxson is far too large to get on top of the fence, but Daisy is another story. She's taken to fence walking every morning, teasing all the neighborhood dogs in the process, which has made me a bit unpopular with the neighbors. She's also decided roofs are pretty cool, especially for this purpose of dog-torture.
The only downside is that my mornings now start at 5 am. Like clockwork, the yowling starts with the promise that the pain ends the second I open the door. In addition, the bird invasion hasn't ceased since Daisy has been outside (if' nothing, they seem to know these two are too well fed to be a real threat), but Jaxson has been ridding the neighborhood of the mouse population and Daisy has been redeeming herself with the neighbors by shifting her attention to a local family of squirrels (who have been surprisingly destructive!!!)
In short we after so many years, we finally have found a routine that has brought peace, quiet, and a complete end to door dashing.
20 hours later I was curled up on the couch, sobbing uncontrollably while Daisy tried to calm me down and Grey gently consoled me. I was convinced my beloved cat of 15+ years was dead, eaten by a coyote/bit by a rattlesnake and somewhere in a ditch.
10 minutes later I would find him trying to sneak a meal from the cat food I left out for him on the front stoop, creeping low so as not to attract any attention from us. Happy, smelling of earth and no regrets.
 |
| Made my mother cry. No fucks given. |
 |
| She was so happy to have him back. Then she spent the rest of the night beating him up for leaving without her. |
I let them out.
And now, for 2 hours every morning, there's amazing silence. Combined with insanely happy felines. Grey and I can't remember the last time we slept this well.
 |
| Where's the sleeping kitty? |
It hasn't been all sunshine and roses. Jaxson is far too large to get on top of the fence, but Daisy is another story. She's taken to fence walking every morning, teasing all the neighborhood dogs in the process, which has made me a bit unpopular with the neighbors. She's also decided roofs are pretty cool, especially for this purpose of dog-torture.
The only downside is that my mornings now start at 5 am. Like clockwork, the yowling starts with the promise that the pain ends the second I open the door. In addition, the bird invasion hasn't ceased since Daisy has been outside (if' nothing, they seem to know these two are too well fed to be a real threat), but Jaxson has been ridding the neighborhood of the mouse population and Daisy has been redeeming herself with the neighbors by shifting her attention to a local family of squirrels (who have been surprisingly destructive!!!)
In short we after so many years, we finally have found a routine that has brought peace, quiet, and a complete end to door dashing.
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Owning the narrative
Any hiatus on my end is rarely planned. The pattern usually starts with me going into something new, putting my all in, and suddenly finding myself too exhausted at the idea of facing another computer screen at the end of the day. But another aspect to these gaps in writing comes when I find myself in a place where it's beneficial to be listening. Where I'm absorbing so much information around me that often it's hard to make sense of where to begin. After 7-months, though, I'm long overdue for structuring my thoughts.
Please bear with me.
*************************
Each and every organism that walks this earth has its own story to tell. This statement in and of itself isn't terribly profound, but where it becomes reflective is when a layer is added that often most of these stories are repressed. This repression is often not done to be actively malicious but is a consequence of someone else viewing the sharing of an individual story as being threatening to their own. Despite our individualities, our stories are intertwined. Sharing is often not easy.
Since starting my new position, I've been shocked at the number of people I've encountered who not only own their stories but unapologetically control the narrative. Both impressive to observe and a bit unnerving, the consistency of how they present themselves to the world, quickly rejecting any outside objection to their narrative, is something that completely alien to me. I'm used to my own viewpoints and narrative being readily contradicted, with others silencing the aspects they don't agree with under the claims that their narrative is being infringed upon. What my colleagues have shown me is that owning your narrative doesn't mean that other narratives cannot exist, but this silencing is something that is not tolerated.
I've been rolling this concept around in my mind over the past year as I've been navigating this new position and deep-diving into the technologies my employer is creating. From a business standpoint, it's been extremely eye-opening. From a personal standpoint, it's been a paradigm shift in thinking about my story from the past decade. The reality is, sharing my story makes people uncomfortable, with each chapter having an aspect that either leaves the listener silent or actively engaging in contradiction. For a long time, I assumed that the heart of the problem lay in the message. It hasn't been until recently that I've begun re-evaluating that as I'm now acknowledging that I've also been allowing others' discomfort or versions of these events to drive my narrative.
What brought a lot of this to a head was a mixture of swimming in this new environment and picking up books from three Minnesota authors that all address their stories unapologetically. As I devoured these memoirs, first from Nora McInerny, then Hope Jahren and finally Cheryl Strayed, I found myself both homesick for my childhood home and inspired to revisit all that has happened over the past decade. Because if I'm being honest, the trauma didn't begin and end with infertility; infertility was just a chapter in this book. The truth is things have been hard for a long time, with me dealing with a lot of self-hatred that stems from illness and things outside of my control. And while others around me were talking with pride about all they have accomplished and overcome, I found myself shying away in shame, assuming that all the hurt and pain was due to me being completely broken. All of it starting with others silencing my narrative when I was very young.
There are problems with allowing a select few to drive global narratives. The first being that quashing other's narratives limits the conversation, giving the false impression about views and experiences which often lead to polarized views. The second problem, though, is that silencing others has a ripple effect that can ultimately be very destructive. Not allowing people to own their narratives not only sends the message that that individual isn't valued, but it also plants the seed for unresolved anger and pain that blocks people from growing. It also has a tendency to produce people who revisit these same evils on others, usually with ever-increasing aggression.
The wheels have been in motion over the past few months to begin breaking down a lot of this, starting with owning the fact that I'm still not okay from all of this and that I need help. So as I was fighting to find resources and help for Maddy and Teddy, making sure the same evils weren't visited on them, Grey and I had the hard conversation about me starting to do the same work on myself.
What all of this led to is a long-overdue diagnosis of ADHD; something that shocks many outside my inner circle as 1) I don't have the usual symptoms and 2) I hold a Ph.D. (don't ask me why this comes up as a justification for said shock). The other angle has been me owning the abuse I have survived, both as I child and as an adult. The truth is I have allowed others in my professional life to mistreat me solely for their own advancement and those toxic environments and relationships have left me questioning my own self worth and abilities. It's only been on the heels of news showing the continued toxic patterns from these situations that I've been able to begin reframing, but the reality is my narrative is something I've allowed them to have too much control over.
With all of this, I've begun working to own my narrative in this new manner. Acknowledging that others will have conflicting views about certain events or insights, but also that I no longer need to apologize for the discomfort my story causes others as that's a reflection on them. To date, it's been a slow and sometimes painful process, with me being extremely grateful to have the support I have from Grey and others who have been cheering me on along the way. What keeps me going is despite the stumbles and the pain is the shift I've been experiencing in how I view myself and the lightness of no longer carrying the emotional loads of others.
All that said, I still have a long road ahead in this new chapter. There are still days I worry too much about what others think or feel when frankly the problem shouldn't even be mine. So bear with me as I continue working through all of this in the space. Owning my narrative really and truly for the first time.
Please bear with me.
*************************
Each and every organism that walks this earth has its own story to tell. This statement in and of itself isn't terribly profound, but where it becomes reflective is when a layer is added that often most of these stories are repressed. This repression is often not done to be actively malicious but is a consequence of someone else viewing the sharing of an individual story as being threatening to their own. Despite our individualities, our stories are intertwined. Sharing is often not easy.
Since starting my new position, I've been shocked at the number of people I've encountered who not only own their stories but unapologetically control the narrative. Both impressive to observe and a bit unnerving, the consistency of how they present themselves to the world, quickly rejecting any outside objection to their narrative, is something that completely alien to me. I'm used to my own viewpoints and narrative being readily contradicted, with others silencing the aspects they don't agree with under the claims that their narrative is being infringed upon. What my colleagues have shown me is that owning your narrative doesn't mean that other narratives cannot exist, but this silencing is something that is not tolerated.
I've been rolling this concept around in my mind over the past year as I've been navigating this new position and deep-diving into the technologies my employer is creating. From a business standpoint, it's been extremely eye-opening. From a personal standpoint, it's been a paradigm shift in thinking about my story from the past decade. The reality is, sharing my story makes people uncomfortable, with each chapter having an aspect that either leaves the listener silent or actively engaging in contradiction. For a long time, I assumed that the heart of the problem lay in the message. It hasn't been until recently that I've begun re-evaluating that as I'm now acknowledging that I've also been allowing others' discomfort or versions of these events to drive my narrative.
What brought a lot of this to a head was a mixture of swimming in this new environment and picking up books from three Minnesota authors that all address their stories unapologetically. As I devoured these memoirs, first from Nora McInerny, then Hope Jahren and finally Cheryl Strayed, I found myself both homesick for my childhood home and inspired to revisit all that has happened over the past decade. Because if I'm being honest, the trauma didn't begin and end with infertility; infertility was just a chapter in this book. The truth is things have been hard for a long time, with me dealing with a lot of self-hatred that stems from illness and things outside of my control. And while others around me were talking with pride about all they have accomplished and overcome, I found myself shying away in shame, assuming that all the hurt and pain was due to me being completely broken. All of it starting with others silencing my narrative when I was very young.
There are problems with allowing a select few to drive global narratives. The first being that quashing other's narratives limits the conversation, giving the false impression about views and experiences which often lead to polarized views. The second problem, though, is that silencing others has a ripple effect that can ultimately be very destructive. Not allowing people to own their narratives not only sends the message that that individual isn't valued, but it also plants the seed for unresolved anger and pain that blocks people from growing. It also has a tendency to produce people who revisit these same evils on others, usually with ever-increasing aggression.
The wheels have been in motion over the past few months to begin breaking down a lot of this, starting with owning the fact that I'm still not okay from all of this and that I need help. So as I was fighting to find resources and help for Maddy and Teddy, making sure the same evils weren't visited on them, Grey and I had the hard conversation about me starting to do the same work on myself.
What all of this led to is a long-overdue diagnosis of ADHD; something that shocks many outside my inner circle as 1) I don't have the usual symptoms and 2) I hold a Ph.D. (don't ask me why this comes up as a justification for said shock). The other angle has been me owning the abuse I have survived, both as I child and as an adult. The truth is I have allowed others in my professional life to mistreat me solely for their own advancement and those toxic environments and relationships have left me questioning my own self worth and abilities. It's only been on the heels of news showing the continued toxic patterns from these situations that I've been able to begin reframing, but the reality is my narrative is something I've allowed them to have too much control over.
With all of this, I've begun working to own my narrative in this new manner. Acknowledging that others will have conflicting views about certain events or insights, but also that I no longer need to apologize for the discomfort my story causes others as that's a reflection on them. To date, it's been a slow and sometimes painful process, with me being extremely grateful to have the support I have from Grey and others who have been cheering me on along the way. What keeps me going is despite the stumbles and the pain is the shift I've been experiencing in how I view myself and the lightness of no longer carrying the emotional loads of others.
All that said, I still have a long road ahead in this new chapter. There are still days I worry too much about what others think or feel when frankly the problem shouldn't even be mine. So bear with me as I continue working through all of this in the space. Owning my narrative really and truly for the first time.
Monday, March 4, 2019
#MicroblogMondays: Edge of new
Not sure what #MicroblogMondays is? Read the inaugural post which explains the idea and how you can participate too.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Sprint
Today was Day 4 of Week 3 at my new position. Despite being thrown into the deep end of the pool with bricks strapped to my ankles, I've managed to keep my nose above water. Most days I find myself in bed around 8 pm, getting up around 5:30 am to do it all over again.
I'm loving every second of it.
On top of this madness, Grey and I managed to find ourselves a new home: a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom single family home that is minutes from work and walking distance from an elementary school. Two Sundays ago we decided to begin the house-hunting process, stopping at a listing that was down the street and dilapidated. A short conversation from the neighbors (who are pissed with the homeowners as they have been picking up the costs for basic maintenance) confirmed our decision to look elsewhere . . . to which they responded by pointing us to a house just down the street.
Despite having 2 other couples who requested applications, Grey and I were able to negotiate to allow pets (property manager noted that Jaxson and Daisy have a better rental record than most humans he deals with) and monthly rent that we can manage. All wrapped up without any drama.
So, on top of facing some big deadlines, we are officially moving the middle of this month. And though I'm excited that Grey has the real option of bike commuting again (Maddy and Teddy as well), I've also been saddened to be saying goodbye to another set of amazing teachers, coaches, care providers, and friends. Unlike previous moves, Teddy and Maddy are sad too.
T-minus 15 days before the moving crew shows up. With me needing to navigate all things required with relocating while preparing for a bomb of an upcoming deadline in a company that is known for pushing the limits.
Hopefully, my nose stays somewhat above water.
I'm loving every second of it.
On top of this madness, Grey and I managed to find ourselves a new home: a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom single family home that is minutes from work and walking distance from an elementary school. Two Sundays ago we decided to begin the house-hunting process, stopping at a listing that was down the street and dilapidated. A short conversation from the neighbors (who are pissed with the homeowners as they have been picking up the costs for basic maintenance) confirmed our decision to look elsewhere . . . to which they responded by pointing us to a house just down the street.
Despite having 2 other couples who requested applications, Grey and I were able to negotiate to allow pets (property manager noted that Jaxson and Daisy have a better rental record than most humans he deals with) and monthly rent that we can manage. All wrapped up without any drama.
So, on top of facing some big deadlines, we are officially moving the middle of this month. And though I'm excited that Grey has the real option of bike commuting again (Maddy and Teddy as well), I've also been saddened to be saying goodbye to another set of amazing teachers, coaches, care providers, and friends. Unlike previous moves, Teddy and Maddy are sad too.
T-minus 15 days before the moving crew shows up. With me needing to navigate all things required with relocating while preparing for a bomb of an upcoming deadline in a company that is known for pushing the limits.
Hopefully, my nose stays somewhat above water.
Monday, February 11, 2019
#MicroblogMondays: Just beyond
Not sure what #MicroblogMondays is? Read the inaugural post which explains the idea and how you can participate too.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
The death before birth
"Understand me.
I'm not like an ordinary world.
I have my madness,
I live in another dimension
and I do not have time for things
that have no soul"
~ Charles Bukowski
Yesterday was an awful day. Following receiving a verbal offer last Friday, I was in limbo waiting for a formal written offer to be sent, detailing everything I needed to know about this new position. I also had potential other offers in the wings, with my contacts being non-commital but wanting information. By day 5 of this wait, I was a mess; fearing the worse and steeling myself to be back at square one the following day.
In addition, Maddy and Teddy had awful days at school. Though generally their time together is short, once a month their school has "mini-days" (which ends up being a shitshow for everyone involved) where they end up spending the entire day together, which usually results on them fighting with one another. By the time I grabbed them from aftercare, their teachers there were visibly done with them, leaving me both apologetic and feeling like a failure.
Last night, while staring at the formal offer that had been sent over, all I could do was cry. I cried for the months of frustration; I cried for the years of pain and hardship; I cried for the fear I feel moving forward. Though Grey tried to comfort me, I ultimately knew the evening was shot.
So instead of being productive and celebrating (the thing most sane people would do), I closed the formal offer on my computer and made a promise not to look at it that evening. Then I began a pattern of destruction.
I closed a bank account that no longer was serving us.
I sent the extension school I was supposed to teach for this summer a short letter of resignation (and then ignored the hurried reply from the program administrator).
I drafted a hot-letter to my mother, who is currently upset given the established boundaries in our relationship (and wants me to apologize for putting up such boundaries).
And I gave myself a 12-hour deadline for a decision. Knowing that if others were serious they would likely respond by the morning. Otherwise, it was time to finalize this process.
As odd as it may sound, the process of destroying brought about a much-needed release, allowing my head to clear by the early hours of the morning. Whereas I went to bed flooded and overwhelmed (and frankly didn't sleep much), I did find the early hours more manageable, allowing me to focus and prepare to begin again.
This morning, I signed the official offer, putting an end to a job-hunting process that began almost a year and a half ago. In addition, Grey showed me a letter from our apartment management company, effectively releasing us from our lease agreement due to the discovery of a water leak. The clock is officially ticking on two major fronts. Though I'm still overwhelmed, things no longer seem completely unmanageable. The death of the old clearing the way for the birth of the new.
I'm not like an ordinary world.
I have my madness,
I live in another dimension
and I do not have time for things
that have no soul"
~ Charles Bukowski
Yesterday was an awful day. Following receiving a verbal offer last Friday, I was in limbo waiting for a formal written offer to be sent, detailing everything I needed to know about this new position. I also had potential other offers in the wings, with my contacts being non-commital but wanting information. By day 5 of this wait, I was a mess; fearing the worse and steeling myself to be back at square one the following day.
In addition, Maddy and Teddy had awful days at school. Though generally their time together is short, once a month their school has "mini-days" (which ends up being a shitshow for everyone involved) where they end up spending the entire day together, which usually results on them fighting with one another. By the time I grabbed them from aftercare, their teachers there were visibly done with them, leaving me both apologetic and feeling like a failure.
Last night, while staring at the formal offer that had been sent over, all I could do was cry. I cried for the months of frustration; I cried for the years of pain and hardship; I cried for the fear I feel moving forward. Though Grey tried to comfort me, I ultimately knew the evening was shot.
So instead of being productive and celebrating (the thing most sane people would do), I closed the formal offer on my computer and made a promise not to look at it that evening. Then I began a pattern of destruction.
I closed a bank account that no longer was serving us.
I sent the extension school I was supposed to teach for this summer a short letter of resignation (and then ignored the hurried reply from the program administrator).
I drafted a hot-letter to my mother, who is currently upset given the established boundaries in our relationship (and wants me to apologize for putting up such boundaries).
And I gave myself a 12-hour deadline for a decision. Knowing that if others were serious they would likely respond by the morning. Otherwise, it was time to finalize this process.
As odd as it may sound, the process of destroying brought about a much-needed release, allowing my head to clear by the early hours of the morning. Whereas I went to bed flooded and overwhelmed (and frankly didn't sleep much), I did find the early hours more manageable, allowing me to focus and prepare to begin again.
This morning, I signed the official offer, putting an end to a job-hunting process that began almost a year and a half ago. In addition, Grey showed me a letter from our apartment management company, effectively releasing us from our lease agreement due to the discovery of a water leak. The clock is officially ticking on two major fronts. Though I'm still overwhelmed, things no longer seem completely unmanageable. The death of the old clearing the way for the birth of the new.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Frost in the hills
Given the Polar Vortex last week, it's amusing to hear the locals complain about 41 degrees F (5 degrees C) weather. But an immediate benefit of the temperature dip, outside of the rainbows, is seeing white dusting the local hills.
A beautiful reminder that there is wonder in the world.
Monday, February 4, 2019
#MicroblogMondays: Beginning the transition
Not sure what #MicroblogMondays is? Read the inaugural post which explains the idea and how you can participate too.
With the excitement in this has come looking back on the road to here. And admitting openly, despite what others want to hear, that it's been a rough one.
This job transition has been years in the making. Starting from the first fellowship application rejects to short postdocs with limited funding to teaching opportunities that required lots of negotiating every 2 months with insanely low pay (my worst was $500 per month for a 10-week course) and no job security or benefits. Many lecturers burn out after 2 years of this life; I managed to hang on for 8 years, fighting to work beside others who have similar goals and insights. The rewards have been there, but the costs for those who don't have a safety net (or a trust fund) have been far greater than most realize, driving a search for something that didn't require me breaking myself and sacrificing my family on a daily basis.
On Friday, I was offered a position. One that I'm incredibly excited about. I'm waiting to see the formal offer before the final decision can be made (hence why I'm still actively finalizing another application process), but the preliminary number I was given sent me into a laughing fit as it's more money than I've ever seen. That number bumps my family out of living close to the poverty line, allowing us to live the lifestyle many in our circle have been enjoying for some years now. And that's just the beginning, with the possibility for advancement and training at allows to grow, applying my skill set in ways that benefit a much broader audience.
With the excitement in this has come looking back on the road to here. And admitting openly, despite what others want to hear, that it's been a rough one.
We have an education crisis in this nation. Teachers and educators are minimized socially and financially, leading to high levels of burn out and turn over. And though we talk about students suffering and worrying about the next generation, the focus has not been on fostering learning and growing our leaders and innovators, but instead on maximizing tax cuts, paying administrators and providing luxuries for student housing in order to justify inflating tuition. The sacrifice has been that those in the classroom and those supporting the classroom aren't given the support they need to do the work so many acknowledge is needed.
It's dire at the PreK-12 level; it's even worse at the higher education level, where many instructors and lecturers are not unionized and treated as disposable.
This week will involve a lot of work. In addition to reaching out to everyone who has helped me in recent months, offering advice and contacts, and thanking them for their help, I also will be contacting a local extension program and informing them I won't be running the course they offered me for the summer. $4000 paid after the course is completed (7-week evening course that meets 4 hours twice a week) combined with 30 pages for application materials is not sustainable and though I love being in the classroom, the truth is the administrations across this country need to decide that the scramble to find anyone qualified to teach these courses requires changing the education model. That their instructors drawing unemployment benefits and/or receiving food stamps while teaching so the university can meet its mission statement needs to be a thing of the past.
And my hope is that this also is the start of a new chapter, allowing me the security and support I need to be a better teacher. Both in this position and beyond.
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Emerging
My bones are tired and my brain is mush. After four straight days of intense interviews (enjoyable, but intense), all I want to do is climb back into bed to sleep. Which isn't going to happen as I've been told that my references are being checked for one of these positions (requiring me to alert and update the people on my list) and because I still have an assignment due.
Whoever said "sleep is for the weak" was delusional.
In between the work I need to complete has also been me emerging back into normal life, updating myself on the news and happenings. It's been a bit intense given I was aware of the polar vortex, but "Frost Quakes" brings the cold to a whole new level.
It's odd to realize how disconnected I've been over the last week. The news fast has been good, but I'm reminded of my time in the trenches where I felt like I was outside looking in, missing components of life that so many others were focused on.
Thinking of everything east of the Sierra Nevadas. My there be warmer weather soon.
Whoever said "sleep is for the weak" was delusional.
In between the work I need to complete has also been me emerging back into normal life, updating myself on the news and happenings. It's been a bit intense given I was aware of the polar vortex, but "Frost Quakes" brings the cold to a whole new level.
It's odd to realize how disconnected I've been over the last week. The news fast has been good, but I'm reminded of my time in the trenches where I felt like I was outside looking in, missing components of life that so many others were focused on.
Thinking of everything east of the Sierra Nevadas. My there be warmer weather soon.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Puzzles
Today is day 3 of a four-day interview cycle for three separate positions. One interview on Monday has resulted in me proceeding to the next step, with a writing assignment that needs to be completed and today I've finished meeting with everyone on the team for a position I did an on-site interview for. Tomorrow is a full day for a different on-site interview.
All the while, I've been reading up on technology, prepping my presentation and learning about all the different people I will be talking with.
To say I'm exhausted is an understatement.
This morning, following school drop off, I was reflecting on all of these interviews combined with me thinking about other daily matters (like dealing with dual car registration). And though I hate the initial drama that gets dropped in my lap, what I'm finding I enjoy (and am told I'm good at) is finding solutions, fitting together different pieces of a puzzle to make a final product.
Though stressful, the unexpected bill yesterday was something I was quickly able to resolve. During my conversations over the last three days, I had a lot of examples of how I have addressed various situations, working with others to find a solution and meet goals. And as I've been preparing for tomorrow, I've been looking at my past work in a new light, seeing where pieces fit that previously were orphaned and making a case for the next steps.
Working on my talk today, I composed a couple of sentences talking about the benefits of non-linear training and career paths; how uncertainty and even failure have helped shape who I am today. But another element has been taking components and pieces of my training and life experience, seeing the diverse edges and finding ways for fitting it all together. In some ways, I'm feeling like I'm just beginning to see the outcome of this puzzle but in others, I'm becoming more aware that the final product of this process isn't what matters, but the process itself.
I have one more day of interviews scheduled and tomorrow is the day I've been preparing for over the last two weeks, working on putting together pieces to make a case for why I am the candidate they want for the position.
We'll see what happens.
All the while, I've been reading up on technology, prepping my presentation and learning about all the different people I will be talking with.
To say I'm exhausted is an understatement.
This morning, following school drop off, I was reflecting on all of these interviews combined with me thinking about other daily matters (like dealing with dual car registration). And though I hate the initial drama that gets dropped in my lap, what I'm finding I enjoy (and am told I'm good at) is finding solutions, fitting together different pieces of a puzzle to make a final product.
Though stressful, the unexpected bill yesterday was something I was quickly able to resolve. During my conversations over the last three days, I had a lot of examples of how I have addressed various situations, working with others to find a solution and meet goals. And as I've been preparing for tomorrow, I've been looking at my past work in a new light, seeing where pieces fit that previously were orphaned and making a case for the next steps.
Working on my talk today, I composed a couple of sentences talking about the benefits of non-linear training and career paths; how uncertainty and even failure have helped shape who I am today. But another element has been taking components and pieces of my training and life experience, seeing the diverse edges and finding ways for fitting it all together. In some ways, I'm feeling like I'm just beginning to see the outcome of this puzzle but in others, I'm becoming more aware that the final product of this process isn't what matters, but the process itself.
I have one more day of interviews scheduled and tomorrow is the day I've been preparing for over the last two weeks, working on putting together pieces to make a case for why I am the candidate they want for the position.
We'll see what happens.
Monday, January 28, 2019
#MicroblogMondays: Sparking joy
Not sure what #MicroblogMondays is? Read the inaugural post which explains the idea and how you can participate too.
Last Friday, Grey received a bill from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding motor vehicle excise for Lenny. Thinking this was an error on Massachusetts end, I reached out today to correct the problem, naively assuming that it was just a matter of updating the information in their system.
Massachusetts is odd, given most of the tax structure happens at the town level. What this means is that resolving any issues means contacting an official in the town, having them communicate to the state (and county) any and all updates. This makes moving within the state interesting as none of this is advertised (all of it assumed) and requires a ton of paperwork to be completed in order to update each entity.
What I learned today, despite my marathon at the California DMV last spring (and transferring the title to California) is that Lenny was STILL registered in Massachusetts. Meaning they are now taxing us, even though the car is no longer titled and/or housed there.
No one told us that we needed to cancel the vehicle registration. Even more fun, there is contradictory information on the websites about how to do this.
So in between interviews today, I managed to beat the system and cancel Lenny's registration. Tomorrow involves double-checking where the tax abatement forms (and all the supporting documents) need to be sent, given this information is not clearly spelled out (and all of it is assessed). All the while working, once again, with a lawyer to deal with any potential threat of collections.
The silver lining in all of this is Grey and I still have the MA plates for Lenny; a bitter reminder of our time there (all rust on Lenny has been completely removed). Though we've been instructed to dispose of the plates, I'm leaning towards to include them in the packet going out tomorrow. A moment of release that can spark some joy in an otherwise frustrating situation.
Last Friday, Grey received a bill from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding motor vehicle excise for Lenny. Thinking this was an error on Massachusetts end, I reached out today to correct the problem, naively assuming that it was just a matter of updating the information in their system.
Massachusetts is odd, given most of the tax structure happens at the town level. What this means is that resolving any issues means contacting an official in the town, having them communicate to the state (and county) any and all updates. This makes moving within the state interesting as none of this is advertised (all of it assumed) and requires a ton of paperwork to be completed in order to update each entity.
What I learned today, despite my marathon at the California DMV last spring (and transferring the title to California) is that Lenny was STILL registered in Massachusetts. Meaning they are now taxing us, even though the car is no longer titled and/or housed there.
No one told us that we needed to cancel the vehicle registration. Even more fun, there is contradictory information on the websites about how to do this.
So in between interviews today, I managed to beat the system and cancel Lenny's registration. Tomorrow involves double-checking where the tax abatement forms (and all the supporting documents) need to be sent, given this information is not clearly spelled out (and all of it is assessed). All the while working, once again, with a lawyer to deal with any potential threat of collections.
The silver lining in all of this is Grey and I still have the MA plates for Lenny; a bitter reminder of our time there (all rust on Lenny has been completely removed). Though we've been instructed to dispose of the plates, I'm leaning towards to include them in the packet going out tomorrow. A moment of release that can spark some joy in an otherwise frustrating situation.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
In the thick
I have four interviews scheduled for the next 7 days. Two are confirmed on-site, with a potential third on the horizon and a phone interview in the process of being scheduled.
The past two days have been about preparing, learning details about technologies and systems, digging up research papers to understand the chemistry and statistics of applications. Learning the whole time about new products and ventures. All while revamping my presentations and interview approaches.
All of it exhausting. All of it insanely cool.
Last Tuesday, I braved the rain to attend a talk about the emerging Foodtech industry, where I learned about a new product that was overcoming many of the challenges of dairy-free milk. One major downside of most of the previous dairy-free plant-based milks (almond, soy, coconut, etc) are actually not as nutritious as animal milk, specifically regarding a lack of protein. Enter pea-milk, with Ripple Foods leading the charge, with subsequent companies developing competing products and other ventures (vegan eggs) developing similar products.
In addition, through a conversation with a contact, I learned about the development of vegan leather and clothes made from spider silks, with companies racing to get first generation products onto the market.
The beauty industry has also been an area for massive development, from skincare to perfume.
And then there are microbes. Don't get me started on microbes.
So I'm haunting coffee shops, lurking on social media with the hopes of learning more about the people I will be meeting over the next few days and cramming as much information into my head as possible to make these interviews and meetings productive. All while trying to remember which is my left hand from my right while in the thick of it all.
The past two days have been about preparing, learning details about technologies and systems, digging up research papers to understand the chemistry and statistics of applications. Learning the whole time about new products and ventures. All while revamping my presentations and interview approaches.
All of it exhausting. All of it insanely cool.
Last Tuesday, I braved the rain to attend a talk about the emerging Foodtech industry, where I learned about a new product that was overcoming many of the challenges of dairy-free milk. One major downside of most of the previous dairy-free plant-based milks (almond, soy, coconut, etc) are actually not as nutritious as animal milk, specifically regarding a lack of protein. Enter pea-milk, with Ripple Foods leading the charge, with subsequent companies developing competing products and other ventures (vegan eggs) developing similar products.
In addition, through a conversation with a contact, I learned about the development of vegan leather and clothes made from spider silks, with companies racing to get first generation products onto the market.
The beauty industry has also been an area for massive development, from skincare to perfume.
And then there are microbes. Don't get me started on microbes.
So I'm haunting coffee shops, lurking on social media with the hopes of learning more about the people I will be meeting over the next few days and cramming as much information into my head as possible to make these interviews and meetings productive. All while trying to remember which is my left hand from my right while in the thick of it all.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
#MicroblogMondays: Still have a dream
Not sure what #MicroblogMondays is? Read the inaugural post which explains the idea and how you can participate too.
Last night, as we settled Maddy and Teddy in for bed, Grey stood in the hallway scanning YouTube for Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech. While normally screens are ban from storytime, recent events in the news combined with local events made clear the need for this exception.
Playing the video and listening to Dr. King's words, I reflected on how things we were talking about half a century ago are still very relevant today. How divided we are not only as a nation but as a world, all spurred on by the actions (and inactions) of a few for gain. And how, though it will require a lot of work and change that may initially seem more painful that this illness, it doesn't have to be this way.
So like Dr. King, I have a dream, mirroring the one he spoke of seemingly so long ago on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I hope that the evils we fight in this modern era, fueled by trolls on social media, will bring about that change. And I hope to see it all within my lifetime.
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Let's talk about NGS, baby (part 2)
Find Part I here.
In late December 2018, an article was released in Genetics of Medicine reported the high healthcare costs for patients with suspected pediatric genetic diagnoses. A summary of the article can be found here, but the take-home message was one that I'm all too familiar with, which is that medical expenses can quickly get out of control when facing diseases that require long-term care. In addition to that, the longer the period of investigation leading to diagnosis, the greater the expenses, making a firm case for the urgent need for inexpensive early diagnostic tests.
Until recently, making genetic testing widely available for patients with suspected genetic diagnoses has been extremely expensive and limited due to outdated guidelines for who qualifies for such testing, fueling most insurance companies refusing to cover the costs. Never mind that some companies have artificially inflated the expense, leading to ethical debates. Within the past 5 years, there's been a dramatic shift, with companies like Invitae, Color and Veritas Genetics employing whole genome sequencing (WGS) strategies to genetic testing and precision medicine, fueling a new approach of patient-driven healthcare. The goal being a simple one: empower patients in their healthcare decisions instead of waiting for physicians (and insurance companies) to okay care based on traditional population data.
With the availability of this technology, though, has come a need for consumer understanding of what is being ordered. What is the difference between WGS, exome sequencing, traditional genetic testing and genotyping (i.e. 23andMe)? What about companies that are using NGS technologies to do tissue analysis (biopsies or blood draws)? How are (and should) samples be collected and how are these companies pairing with clinicians (or not pairing) in order to ensure that high-quality data? And what are things patients should be aware of as these tests become available?
Let's continue...
******************
As mentioned previously, resolving the structure of DNA lead to a shift in the science community. Knowing that DNA was the vehicle for heredity, another focus within the community that complimented the push for developing DNA sequencing technology was understanding how that information was being translated to the cells for use.
In 1958, Francis Crick authored "On Protein Synthesis," where he laid the foundation for his proposal for the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology: DNA makes RNA and RNA makes Protein. But outside of those who actively study biology, the Central Dogma is confusing given that there's usually no context for what these molecules are and what their purpose in a cell's function (let alone a person) would be.
So let's start by giving that context.
Whenever I introduce my students to DNA, I show them an image of a grand library found on most university campuses, teaming with information in the form of books and archives on every possible topic imaginable. This is what DNA is to your cell: an archive of all information possibly needed in order to generate an organism, be that a single-cell bacteria or a human being. All of the books you see lining the shelves are genes, which are heritable units of information that code for a different function/ characteristic (i.e. hair color, lobed ears, freckles, etc). More impressive to think about is that outside of a few exceptions, every-single-one of the cells in your body contains the exact same library of information, which is all tightly packaged inside that cell (we'll get to why that packaging is important later).
Despite having all this information, your cells won't use all of it. Just as most of us have areas of interest and career-focuses, such as a medical doctor won't know much of anything about corporate accounting and a licensed CPA will be inexperienced with chemical engineering, so too do your muscle cells not need the exact same information as your neurons or your skin cells or your liver cells. Yes, there will be some bits of knowledge that will be shared, but even if they do access similar volumes for the needed information, they may require different chapters.
That's where RNA comes in. The purpose of RNA is meant to make available the only information needed by a cell. Think of it as going into that grand university library, but instead of checking out the book, you are only allowed to make copies. And since going through and making copies of all the pages takes too long and leads to less available data, only the information that is needed is copied.
I'm going to back up a bit and point that up until the last decade, there were originally only 3 types of RNA (mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA) that were known and their role was solely involved with passing on instructions to make protein. Over the last decade, though, new types of RNA that don't go on to make proteins, also known as non-coding RNAs, were discovered and their presence has drastically changed our understanding for RNA's role in normal cellular functions and disease. I won't go into miRNAs, siRNAs, piRNAs, and long ncRNAs here (though you can read more here) but I will say is all RNA plays a role in determining not only what proteins are made in the cell, but also when and how long they will be around.
What are proteins? This article provides a nice overview, but the easiest way to think about them is that they are molecular machines in the cell that provide structure, carry out a function (i.e. metabolism, import nutrients, export waste, etc) or oversee regulation (balance pH, oversee product development, etc), often doing a combination of these. If you think of each of your cells as factories, with each factory being specialized depending on the cell type, you'll see similarities in how operations are performed, but you'll also see the differences that give rise to different tissue types. And though most factories need some similar things, there will be differences in the materials they need in order to generate a final product.
So what does any of this have to do with sequencing your DNA and genetic testing? Why not just sequence your entire genome to identify diseases or underlying conditions, especially now that I've told you in my previous post that the technology has advanced to the point that we can? The answer to that question gets back to understanding how your cells function. Despite the fact that all humans are ~99.6% genetically identical to one another (and I want you to sit with that as you look at everyone sitting in the room with you, realizing how closely related you are to people who look differently than you do), you also have ~ 6 billion base pairs of DNA in each of your cells (remember, you have 2 copies of your genome: one from mom and one from dad), that when put together is about 2 meters long (all the DNA in your body put together would be twice the diameter of our solar system). What that means is that despite the similarity, there's also a lot of variation. And how that variation translates is not in you and I having different genes, but there are different versions of the ~20,000 genes we have, resulting either in different versions of the proteins our cells will make (or not be allowed to make) or a disruption in timing for when those proteins are present to do their work. Two added wrinkles in all of this are that 1) outside of a few cases, most proteins work in concert with one another, resulting in genetics behind many diseases being complex and 2) we know environment can also have an effect. Illustrating this, recent work published in Nature Genetics focused on untangling the genetic and environmental ties for 560 conditions, offering more of insight into how this interplay is happening, but also highlighting we still have a long way to go for yesterday the molecular mechanisms behind many of these diseases.
Hence where the choice of WGS vs exome sequencing vs genotyping comes in. With traditional genotyping, the focus is on looking at differences in your genetic code that have known effects, usually in the form of single base pair changes called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Because these changes are known, identifying them is quick and fairly inexpensive. The downside is that this data provides only a limited snapshot (there are ~ 4-5 million SNPs in the human genome) and doesn't explore more of the complexities surrounding many conditions. Exome sequencing focuses on sequencing only the portions of your genome that will make the proteins in your cells, thus excluding all the genetic information regulating the generation of these proteins. Those an extremely powerful approach for rare Mendelian diseases and more extensive than genotyping, exome sequencing only focuses on 1% (~ 30 million bp) of the genome, excluding all the genetic information controlling the generation of those proteins. Finally, there's whole genome sequencing (WGS), involving sequencing your entire genome and allowing researchers (and now clinicians) access to even variation in your genetic code. But with all this information comes challenges with interpretation, as the effects to all these changes are not known and even if there are known effects, it's not a guarantee that you will develop the condition, leading to questions about clinical significance.
One final caveat is that sometimes clinicians don't know what variations in your genome they are looking, so they are looking for when the RNA is present. In this case, sample collection is critical as RNA can easily be damaged and degrade, making it difficult to turn back into DNA and sequence. So in addition to the type of sequencing is taking into account sample collection to ensure good results.
A final wrinkle in all of this is whether to even consider sequence your genome. In an era where there are leaks in personal information, the fears about own's genetic code being used to discriminate are more real today than ever, meaning anyone venturing into this terrain is behooved for doing their homework ahead of time.
************
As I type all of this out, it's hard not to feel a bit overwhelmed. Even for someone like me, who is used to being surrounded by information like this, I find myself nervous and second-guessing about whether I've covered this well and correctly. What's pushing me to get this information out there in this manner is the daily evidence that we are entering an era where biotech innovations can have a meaningful impact on our daily lives. And though the current focus for many in the US is on using this information to healthcare (and I encourage you to learn more about the Precision Medicine Initiative), the truth is this is just the tip of the iceberg given I haven't even touched on gene editing.
That said, my hope is that I have made this information a bit more approachable, or at least armed you with the needed information necessary to do your own research. Because with all that is happening with this technology, it's likely it won't be long before it becomes more a part of our daily lives. And that's an exciting prospect.
In late December 2018, an article was released in Genetics of Medicine reported the high healthcare costs for patients with suspected pediatric genetic diagnoses. A summary of the article can be found here, but the take-home message was one that I'm all too familiar with, which is that medical expenses can quickly get out of control when facing diseases that require long-term care. In addition to that, the longer the period of investigation leading to diagnosis, the greater the expenses, making a firm case for the urgent need for inexpensive early diagnostic tests.
Until recently, making genetic testing widely available for patients with suspected genetic diagnoses has been extremely expensive and limited due to outdated guidelines for who qualifies for such testing, fueling most insurance companies refusing to cover the costs. Never mind that some companies have artificially inflated the expense, leading to ethical debates. Within the past 5 years, there's been a dramatic shift, with companies like Invitae, Color and Veritas Genetics employing whole genome sequencing (WGS) strategies to genetic testing and precision medicine, fueling a new approach of patient-driven healthcare. The goal being a simple one: empower patients in their healthcare decisions instead of waiting for physicians (and insurance companies) to okay care based on traditional population data.
With the availability of this technology, though, has come a need for consumer understanding of what is being ordered. What is the difference between WGS, exome sequencing, traditional genetic testing and genotyping (i.e. 23andMe)? What about companies that are using NGS technologies to do tissue analysis (biopsies or blood draws)? How are (and should) samples be collected and how are these companies pairing with clinicians (or not pairing) in order to ensure that high-quality data? And what are things patients should be aware of as these tests become available?
Let's continue...
******************
As mentioned previously, resolving the structure of DNA lead to a shift in the science community. Knowing that DNA was the vehicle for heredity, another focus within the community that complimented the push for developing DNA sequencing technology was understanding how that information was being translated to the cells for use.
In 1958, Francis Crick authored "On Protein Synthesis," where he laid the foundation for his proposal for the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology: DNA makes RNA and RNA makes Protein. But outside of those who actively study biology, the Central Dogma is confusing given that there's usually no context for what these molecules are and what their purpose in a cell's function (let alone a person) would be.
So let's start by giving that context.
Whenever I introduce my students to DNA, I show them an image of a grand library found on most university campuses, teaming with information in the form of books and archives on every possible topic imaginable. This is what DNA is to your cell: an archive of all information possibly needed in order to generate an organism, be that a single-cell bacteria or a human being. All of the books you see lining the shelves are genes, which are heritable units of information that code for a different function/ characteristic (i.e. hair color, lobed ears, freckles, etc). More impressive to think about is that outside of a few exceptions, every-single-one of the cells in your body contains the exact same library of information, which is all tightly packaged inside that cell (we'll get to why that packaging is important later).
Despite having all this information, your cells won't use all of it. Just as most of us have areas of interest and career-focuses, such as a medical doctor won't know much of anything about corporate accounting and a licensed CPA will be inexperienced with chemical engineering, so too do your muscle cells not need the exact same information as your neurons or your skin cells or your liver cells. Yes, there will be some bits of knowledge that will be shared, but even if they do access similar volumes for the needed information, they may require different chapters.
That's where RNA comes in. The purpose of RNA is meant to make available the only information needed by a cell. Think of it as going into that grand university library, but instead of checking out the book, you are only allowed to make copies. And since going through and making copies of all the pages takes too long and leads to less available data, only the information that is needed is copied.
I'm going to back up a bit and point that up until the last decade, there were originally only 3 types of RNA (mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA) that were known and their role was solely involved with passing on instructions to make protein. Over the last decade, though, new types of RNA that don't go on to make proteins, also known as non-coding RNAs, were discovered and their presence has drastically changed our understanding for RNA's role in normal cellular functions and disease. I won't go into miRNAs, siRNAs, piRNAs, and long ncRNAs here (though you can read more here) but I will say is all RNA plays a role in determining not only what proteins are made in the cell, but also when and how long they will be around.
What are proteins? This article provides a nice overview, but the easiest way to think about them is that they are molecular machines in the cell that provide structure, carry out a function (i.e. metabolism, import nutrients, export waste, etc) or oversee regulation (balance pH, oversee product development, etc), often doing a combination of these. If you think of each of your cells as factories, with each factory being specialized depending on the cell type, you'll see similarities in how operations are performed, but you'll also see the differences that give rise to different tissue types. And though most factories need some similar things, there will be differences in the materials they need in order to generate a final product.
So what does any of this have to do with sequencing your DNA and genetic testing? Why not just sequence your entire genome to identify diseases or underlying conditions, especially now that I've told you in my previous post that the technology has advanced to the point that we can? The answer to that question gets back to understanding how your cells function. Despite the fact that all humans are ~99.6% genetically identical to one another (and I want you to sit with that as you look at everyone sitting in the room with you, realizing how closely related you are to people who look differently than you do), you also have ~ 6 billion base pairs of DNA in each of your cells (remember, you have 2 copies of your genome: one from mom and one from dad), that when put together is about 2 meters long (all the DNA in your body put together would be twice the diameter of our solar system). What that means is that despite the similarity, there's also a lot of variation. And how that variation translates is not in you and I having different genes, but there are different versions of the ~20,000 genes we have, resulting either in different versions of the proteins our cells will make (or not be allowed to make) or a disruption in timing for when those proteins are present to do their work. Two added wrinkles in all of this are that 1) outside of a few cases, most proteins work in concert with one another, resulting in genetics behind many diseases being complex and 2) we know environment can also have an effect. Illustrating this, recent work published in Nature Genetics focused on untangling the genetic and environmental ties for 560 conditions, offering more of insight into how this interplay is happening, but also highlighting we still have a long way to go for yesterday the molecular mechanisms behind many of these diseases.
Hence where the choice of WGS vs exome sequencing vs genotyping comes in. With traditional genotyping, the focus is on looking at differences in your genetic code that have known effects, usually in the form of single base pair changes called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Because these changes are known, identifying them is quick and fairly inexpensive. The downside is that this data provides only a limited snapshot (there are ~ 4-5 million SNPs in the human genome) and doesn't explore more of the complexities surrounding many conditions. Exome sequencing focuses on sequencing only the portions of your genome that will make the proteins in your cells, thus excluding all the genetic information regulating the generation of these proteins. Those an extremely powerful approach for rare Mendelian diseases and more extensive than genotyping, exome sequencing only focuses on 1% (~ 30 million bp) of the genome, excluding all the genetic information controlling the generation of those proteins. Finally, there's whole genome sequencing (WGS), involving sequencing your entire genome and allowing researchers (and now clinicians) access to even variation in your genetic code. But with all this information comes challenges with interpretation, as the effects to all these changes are not known and even if there are known effects, it's not a guarantee that you will develop the condition, leading to questions about clinical significance.
One final caveat is that sometimes clinicians don't know what variations in your genome they are looking, so they are looking for when the RNA is present. In this case, sample collection is critical as RNA can easily be damaged and degrade, making it difficult to turn back into DNA and sequence. So in addition to the type of sequencing is taking into account sample collection to ensure good results.
A final wrinkle in all of this is whether to even consider sequence your genome. In an era where there are leaks in personal information, the fears about own's genetic code being used to discriminate are more real today than ever, meaning anyone venturing into this terrain is behooved for doing their homework ahead of time.
************
As I type all of this out, it's hard not to feel a bit overwhelmed. Even for someone like me, who is used to being surrounded by information like this, I find myself nervous and second-guessing about whether I've covered this well and correctly. What's pushing me to get this information out there in this manner is the daily evidence that we are entering an era where biotech innovations can have a meaningful impact on our daily lives. And though the current focus for many in the US is on using this information to healthcare (and I encourage you to learn more about the Precision Medicine Initiative), the truth is this is just the tip of the iceberg given I haven't even touched on gene editing.
That said, my hope is that I have made this information a bit more approachable, or at least armed you with the needed information necessary to do your own research. Because with all that is happening with this technology, it's likely it won't be long before it becomes more a part of our daily lives. And that's an exciting prospect.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Confronting death
It was an innocent mistake. I was excited to find a copy of the movie "Charlotte's Web," which I loved as a child and sat down with Maddy and Teddy to watch. Going through each scene, I began to remember the specifics of the story about a pig and his unusual friendship with a spider with a talent for words. I didn't think too much of it until near the end of the movie until we came to the scene where this spider announced she wouldn't be making the journey back to the farm. And suddenly, caught in a vortex I knew we had no way out of, I found myself preparing for the shock and sadness that all children face when confronted by the reality of death.
Teddy and Maddy are at an age where they are becoming aware of certain realities. Learning about Rosa Parks sparked a long conversation about fairness and equality, allowing us to begin future discussions about racism and civil rights. An evening bathtime turned into an anatomy lesson and exploring gender. And a recent interaction with some neighbor kids started the discussion about when friends don't want you to play with them and why in most moments that was okay vs in moments where it leads to bullying. Death has been a harder one, given the topic is rooted in sadness and grief.
It's also the one equalizer as it's something none of us will escape, meaning they will be facing this reality at some point, making it important to not shy away from these conversations. The problem is, how to have the conversation, given it's a topic that brings up a lot of fear. Some turn to religion to begin explaining, with images of an afterlife meant to help soothe, but though those initial explanations seem to help placate the questioners, it often doesn't prepare them for the avalanche of emotions that come when faced with death.
Why all of this is on my mind is because I'm trying to figure out how to prepare Teddy and Maddy for when Jaxson and Daisy pass. This summer, both kitties will be 16 years old, and though they are both in very good health, I'm also aware that their time with us as a family is also becoming short. Unlike when they were younger, both cats have developed their own relationship with each kid, meaning when the day comes that we say good-bye, the grieving process will also involve each of them navigating their own process. And though I cannot entirely prepare them, I also know that we need to start exposing them, talking about what death means and helping them process the emotions surrounding that reality now when it is more hypothetically.
Sitting on Grey's lap, a sobbing Maddy hugged him as she processed facing the death of a character and confronted her own fears about dying and her family dying. Instead of telling her not to worry, Grey held her as she processed these emotions, allowing a few tears to fall as they talked about how one day he would die too; why even though that would be sad that it was a part of being alive and why it was important to live our lives the best way we knew how.
Still, as important as these conversations are, and the fact that they need to continue, I feel completely unprepared to talk about all of this. Maybe because a part of me it's ready to face these realities yet, even though I'm very aware that they aren't terribly far away.
Teddy and Maddy are at an age where they are becoming aware of certain realities. Learning about Rosa Parks sparked a long conversation about fairness and equality, allowing us to begin future discussions about racism and civil rights. An evening bathtime turned into an anatomy lesson and exploring gender. And a recent interaction with some neighbor kids started the discussion about when friends don't want you to play with them and why in most moments that was okay vs in moments where it leads to bullying. Death has been a harder one, given the topic is rooted in sadness and grief.
It's also the one equalizer as it's something none of us will escape, meaning they will be facing this reality at some point, making it important to not shy away from these conversations. The problem is, how to have the conversation, given it's a topic that brings up a lot of fear. Some turn to religion to begin explaining, with images of an afterlife meant to help soothe, but though those initial explanations seem to help placate the questioners, it often doesn't prepare them for the avalanche of emotions that come when faced with death.
Why all of this is on my mind is because I'm trying to figure out how to prepare Teddy and Maddy for when Jaxson and Daisy pass. This summer, both kitties will be 16 years old, and though they are both in very good health, I'm also aware that their time with us as a family is also becoming short. Unlike when they were younger, both cats have developed their own relationship with each kid, meaning when the day comes that we say good-bye, the grieving process will also involve each of them navigating their own process. And though I cannot entirely prepare them, I also know that we need to start exposing them, talking about what death means and helping them process the emotions surrounding that reality now when it is more hypothetically.
Sitting on Grey's lap, a sobbing Maddy hugged him as she processed facing the death of a character and confronted her own fears about dying and her family dying. Instead of telling her not to worry, Grey held her as she processed these emotions, allowing a few tears to fall as they talked about how one day he would die too; why even though that would be sad that it was a part of being alive and why it was important to live our lives the best way we knew how.
Still, as important as these conversations are, and the fact that they need to continue, I feel completely unprepared to talk about all of this. Maybe because a part of me it's ready to face these realities yet, even though I'm very aware that they aren't terribly far away.
Monday, January 14, 2019
#MicroblogMondays: purposeful rituals
Not sure what #MicroblogMondays is? Read the inaugural post which explains the idea and how you can participate too.
Jess's post about rituals had me reflecting last night, remember my own crazy ones but also thinking about why we subject ourselves to such practices. All on the heels of me remembering how I shunned rituals for a period prior to embarking on creating new resolutions for this year.
One resolution Grey and I have been working hard to keep is getting outdoors a lot more than we have in the past. Despite the government shutdown, we've been working hard to locate hiking trails and local parks, finding ways to explore our surroundings without the buzz of technology in the background.
It's not always an easy endeavor, especially following weeks where we're both feeling drained, but the benefits are always readily available as we've begun settling into something of a routine.
And I think that's the difference, compared to years past, is finding rituals that bring purpose and release. That instead of subjecting myself to practices out of a sense of obligation and guilt, that the focus is on refueling the soul.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Let's talk about NGS, baby (part 1)
This week has turned into a busy one. With the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in the Bay Area, there have been a number of announcements from local companies about funding, acquisitions and everyone reviewing what's hot (and what's decidedly not). With all this activity has come interviews and meetings for me, with recruiters and hiring managers reaching out to see if I'm interested in exploring potential fits with their organizations. The thing many have been looking at is my understanding of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies, given that this arena is decidedly in the "hot" category for product expansion.
Full disclosure: I don't consider myself an NGS expert (though I'm hoping to change this very soon). To date, I've only done one Illumina library prep and missed out on doing the sequence analysis and alignment due to moving across the country and naively believing the bioinformatics staff that the training was straight-forward (turns out it is . . . when you work with someone who is actually interested in training instead of acting like a superior snothead). All that said, one advantage I do have is I know how to present this information to an audience that isn't fluent with the jargon, walking them through what is and is not currently possible.
So the goal of these next few posts is to do just that, giving you a bit of history for context and even talking about what's coming down the pipe for diagnostics and care. Why this is important is because NGS technologies are rapidly moving into the patient care space, meaning that within your lifetime tests and screens for genetic conditions will become an option and fertility is at the top of the list. My hope is that I can at least give you a base-level of understanding; a jumping point so to speak.
For those interested, a more detailed history of DNA sequencing can be found here.
Let's begin.
*********************
On April 25, 1953, Science Magazine published a one-page letter authored by James Watson and Francis Crick titled "Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid." Regardless of your thoughts and feelings regarding how this work was completed, what is undisputed is that the publication of this article, followed a month later by this article published in Nature, marked an end of an era identifying and classifying the molecule responsible for hereditable information and ushered in a new era that lay the groundwork for modern molecular biology.
One immediate question was how does one "read" this molecular code within each molecule, putting together the correct combinations of A,G,T and C. What initially seems like a simple task actually proved to be quite difficult, resulting in slow and laborious work of generating some of the first DNA sequences that would often take years to complete. It would be until about 15-20 years after the structure of DNA was published that the first wave of DNA sequences technologies would online, with the development of the "chain-terminator" sequencing method, later adapted and developed to become "Sanger Sequencing," leading the charge and becoming the predominant method for DNA sequencing.
What set Sanger Sequencing apart for other sequencing technologies is it utilizes a single separation method combined and interpreting the results is pretty easy. Advances in the technique, such as moving to fluorescent dyes and a capillary system as well as the development of a fully automated DNA sequencer helped advance the technology, reducing costs to the method. Despite this, there were some serious limitations to this method, both in time, cost and labor not to mention needing a lot of DNA to complete a single reaction. Though researchers now had the ability to read DNA, creating maps for whole genomes was taking years and insane amounts of money, never mind issues with coverage and poor quality sequences. All of this limiting the impact of many research endeavors.
In the mid-1980s, as the automated DNA sequencer was coming online, a new wave of DNA sequencing technologies was being developed that would overcome the limitations of Sanger sequencing. Using enzymes that would produce light as DNA was being copied, pyrosequencing had obvious advantages over Sanger sequencing, that major one being that DNA sequencing could be analyzed in real time. Despite a real limitation of distinguishing repeating (stretches of As, Cs, Gs, or Ts), pyrosequencing offered several advantages and would lead the charge for "next-generation sequencing," resulting in a number of different platforms that would dominate the market. Arguably the most important one being the Solexia method.
I'm not going to walk you through the finer points of the Solexia sequencing, as that information is readily available on the Illumina website. By what I will say is that when Illumina came on the scene, the fields of genetics and molecular biology evolved seemingly overnight. Whereas before, sequencing was an expensive process where you only did the reactions as the last step to confirm tool generation or as part of an experiment, suddenly sequencing became part of the experiment. Genetics departments became Genomics departments and scientists were finally able to ask questions on a vastly larger scale. As Illumina developed its technology, and competing companies like PacBio (SMRT sequencing), Oxford Nanopore, ThermoFisher (Ion Torrent) as well as companies like10x Genomics and Twist Biosciences came on the scene, the cost of sequencing dropped from thousands of dollars to pennies, the amount of DNA needed to do a sequencing reaction dropped drastically, the quality of reads vastly improved and coverage hit levels previously never seen. And what use to take years was being accomplished in weeks (if not days) and instead of one single genome for reference, thousands of genomes were being made available to researchers. The sky was no longer the limit.
What all of this has meant for biomedical science is that DNA sequencing was no longer limited to the research space. Sometime in the early 2010s, I began hearing the words "precision medicine" at more and more talks, the idea being that a patient's genomic information could be incorporated into healthcare decisions, offering a more personalized care plan. Precision medicine is already being practiced for diseases like cancer, but there's been a push to expand into areas where the diseases have been more complex, such as mental health, diabetes, rare diseases, dietary issues and, of course, fertility.
But like any rapid advance in technology, the rest of the word is still catching up, leading to misunderstandings both from the general public and even healthcare workers what is and is not possible. And with that knowledge comes a realization that a patient's ability to advocate requires them not only to have a based-understanding of what can and is being done but also knowing enough about the process so they can recognize false-promises, sample collection errors (which happen way too often) and navigate seemingly scary results.
To be continued.....
Full disclosure: I don't consider myself an NGS expert (though I'm hoping to change this very soon). To date, I've only done one Illumina library prep and missed out on doing the sequence analysis and alignment due to moving across the country and naively believing the bioinformatics staff that the training was straight-forward (turns out it is . . . when you work with someone who is actually interested in training instead of acting like a superior snothead). All that said, one advantage I do have is I know how to present this information to an audience that isn't fluent with the jargon, walking them through what is and is not currently possible.
So the goal of these next few posts is to do just that, giving you a bit of history for context and even talking about what's coming down the pipe for diagnostics and care. Why this is important is because NGS technologies are rapidly moving into the patient care space, meaning that within your lifetime tests and screens for genetic conditions will become an option and fertility is at the top of the list. My hope is that I can at least give you a base-level of understanding; a jumping point so to speak.
For those interested, a more detailed history of DNA sequencing can be found here.
Let's begin.
*********************
On April 25, 1953, Science Magazine published a one-page letter authored by James Watson and Francis Crick titled "Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid." Regardless of your thoughts and feelings regarding how this work was completed, what is undisputed is that the publication of this article, followed a month later by this article published in Nature, marked an end of an era identifying and classifying the molecule responsible for hereditable information and ushered in a new era that lay the groundwork for modern molecular biology.
One immediate question was how does one "read" this molecular code within each molecule, putting together the correct combinations of A,G,T and C. What initially seems like a simple task actually proved to be quite difficult, resulting in slow and laborious work of generating some of the first DNA sequences that would often take years to complete. It would be until about 15-20 years after the structure of DNA was published that the first wave of DNA sequences technologies would online, with the development of the "chain-terminator" sequencing method, later adapted and developed to become "Sanger Sequencing," leading the charge and becoming the predominant method for DNA sequencing.
What set Sanger Sequencing apart for other sequencing technologies is it utilizes a single separation method combined and interpreting the results is pretty easy. Advances in the technique, such as moving to fluorescent dyes and a capillary system as well as the development of a fully automated DNA sequencer helped advance the technology, reducing costs to the method. Despite this, there were some serious limitations to this method, both in time, cost and labor not to mention needing a lot of DNA to complete a single reaction. Though researchers now had the ability to read DNA, creating maps for whole genomes was taking years and insane amounts of money, never mind issues with coverage and poor quality sequences. All of this limiting the impact of many research endeavors.
In the mid-1980s, as the automated DNA sequencer was coming online, a new wave of DNA sequencing technologies was being developed that would overcome the limitations of Sanger sequencing. Using enzymes that would produce light as DNA was being copied, pyrosequencing had obvious advantages over Sanger sequencing, that major one being that DNA sequencing could be analyzed in real time. Despite a real limitation of distinguishing repeating (stretches of As, Cs, Gs, or Ts), pyrosequencing offered several advantages and would lead the charge for "next-generation sequencing," resulting in a number of different platforms that would dominate the market. Arguably the most important one being the Solexia method.
I'm not going to walk you through the finer points of the Solexia sequencing, as that information is readily available on the Illumina website. By what I will say is that when Illumina came on the scene, the fields of genetics and molecular biology evolved seemingly overnight. Whereas before, sequencing was an expensive process where you only did the reactions as the last step to confirm tool generation or as part of an experiment, suddenly sequencing became part of the experiment. Genetics departments became Genomics departments and scientists were finally able to ask questions on a vastly larger scale. As Illumina developed its technology, and competing companies like PacBio (SMRT sequencing), Oxford Nanopore, ThermoFisher (Ion Torrent) as well as companies like10x Genomics and Twist Biosciences came on the scene, the cost of sequencing dropped from thousands of dollars to pennies, the amount of DNA needed to do a sequencing reaction dropped drastically, the quality of reads vastly improved and coverage hit levels previously never seen. And what use to take years was being accomplished in weeks (if not days) and instead of one single genome for reference, thousands of genomes were being made available to researchers. The sky was no longer the limit.
What all of this has meant for biomedical science is that DNA sequencing was no longer limited to the research space. Sometime in the early 2010s, I began hearing the words "precision medicine" at more and more talks, the idea being that a patient's genomic information could be incorporated into healthcare decisions, offering a more personalized care plan. Precision medicine is already being practiced for diseases like cancer, but there's been a push to expand into areas where the diseases have been more complex, such as mental health, diabetes, rare diseases, dietary issues and, of course, fertility.
But like any rapid advance in technology, the rest of the word is still catching up, leading to misunderstandings both from the general public and even healthcare workers what is and is not possible. And with that knowledge comes a realization that a patient's ability to advocate requires them not only to have a based-understanding of what can and is being done but also knowing enough about the process so they can recognize false-promises, sample collection errors (which happen way too often) and navigate seemingly scary results.
To be continued.....
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Instead of blogging....
The week has gotten away from me, filled with meetings and interviews while juggling getting the family back into the usual routine. My mind has been whirling with information, from recommendations to filling out applications to reading updates about biotechnology and recent research. All while drafting letters of support for the local teachers union and past students.
The end result has been outlines of posts in my drafts folder and generally neglecting this space, even though writing tends to be therapeutic, helping me organize the chaos floating around in my head. It's a fairly shitty realization.
I know I need to correct this, setting aside prescribed time to write. Overcoming all the chaos that makes me want to sleep most days. So I'm going to try, setting aside the needed time just as I need to continue doing so for other self-care areas of my life.
The end result has been outlines of posts in my drafts folder and generally neglecting this space, even though writing tends to be therapeutic, helping me organize the chaos floating around in my head. It's a fairly shitty realization.
I know I need to correct this, setting aside prescribed time to write. Overcoming all the chaos that makes me want to sleep most days. So I'm going to try, setting aside the needed time just as I need to continue doing so for other self-care areas of my life.
Monday, January 7, 2019
#MicroblogMondays: On the steps of City Hall
Not sure what #MicroblogMondays is? Read the inaugural post which explains the idea and how you can participate too.
The morning didn't start off well. Following a rushed drop-off for Maddy and Teddy at school, rushing to get to the BART station, learning that ALL the trains were delayed due to multiple problems, losing my seat to a man who pushed me out of the way and ending up on the wrong bus to my destination, I was feeling fairly grumpy.
Hailing an Uber to make sure I made it to my meeting on time, I found myself outside of City Hall, unknowingly becoming a witness to a celebration involving what looked like a young family with an adorable little girl who was dressed in a lovely dress and the center of attention.
I'm fairly certain what I was witnessing was a wedding reception, given adoptions are normally finalized at courthouses, but the joy that radiated around this group, all of them embracing this child had familiar feelings that this family's journey to today wasn't an easy one, hence the reason for so much celebration.
And that celebration was contagious.
My Uber driver was insanely nice, driving like a controlled maniac to make sure I made it to my meeting on time. And the meeting was insanely good, with this new contact proving to not only be valuable but also a pretty cool human being. Both of these men noting the smile on my face, in memory of that moment on the steps of City Hall.
The morning didn't start off well. Following a rushed drop-off for Maddy and Teddy at school, rushing to get to the BART station, learning that ALL the trains were delayed due to multiple problems, losing my seat to a man who pushed me out of the way and ending up on the wrong bus to my destination, I was feeling fairly grumpy.
Hailing an Uber to make sure I made it to my meeting on time, I found myself outside of City Hall, unknowingly becoming a witness to a celebration involving what looked like a young family with an adorable little girl who was dressed in a lovely dress and the center of attention.
I'm fairly certain what I was witnessing was a wedding reception, given adoptions are normally finalized at courthouses, but the joy that radiated around this group, all of them embracing this child had familiar feelings that this family's journey to today wasn't an easy one, hence the reason for so much celebration.
And that celebration was contagious.
My Uber driver was insanely nice, driving like a controlled maniac to make sure I made it to my meeting on time. And the meeting was insanely good, with this new contact proving to not only be valuable but also a pretty cool human being. Both of these men noting the smile on my face, in memory of that moment on the steps of City Hall.
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Plan B
Years ago, my mother came up with the oh-so-brilliant idea that I should adopt my cousin's son. My cousin had found herself facing having custody revoked for a second time, following the state determining that she was not meeting basic standards her son needed. Fueled by panic when my ex-uncle's brother stepped up, being willing to take the child, my mom decided that Grey and I would be even better candidates to fulfill this purpose, given we were childless, struggling with infertility and preparing for IVF.
I thought about all of this last night, following reading this post on Cup of Jo that Loribeth pointed out and the recommendation to explore the comments section (side-note: it was incredibly refreshing to see so many support comments). It was one comment in particular by someone named Rita that brought all of it back. Rita starts by talking about how she and her husband turned down her BIL/SIL when asked to be their baby's in-case-of-emergency guardian and how difficult this decision was. But it was this sentence stuck with me:
Assigning guardianship for minors is something I use to assume was easy. Growing up, the assumption was that you simply listed next-of-kin, be it grandparents or siblings. But that was before I began thinking about how children were raised, taking into account values and life-goals in the best of circumstances. Nevermind ending abuse cycles. The added element is seeing first-hand the generational effects when these decisions are poorly made as Grey's grandfather was orphaned at a young age, being raised by an aunt who, though she adored her own children, was far from stellar as an assigned guardian.
With all of this in mind, Grey and I have struggled for the past 5 years to assign emergency guardianship for Maddy and Teddy. Family members have been a hot topic, given that we either see them as unreliable/potentially dangerous or being completely maxed out with their own lives and families. With friends, it's been even more tricky, given that we know how life-altering this decision could be. Ideally, we want a home environment where Maddy and Teddy would be well cared for and loved without stressing out their guardians beyond repair. Hence finding a couple with one or even no children would seem initially ideal and part of Rita's comment touches on this mindset:
I thought about all of this last night, following reading this post on Cup of Jo that Loribeth pointed out and the recommendation to explore the comments section (side-note: it was incredibly refreshing to see so many support comments). It was one comment in particular by someone named Rita that brought all of it back. Rita starts by talking about how she and her husband turned down her BIL/SIL when asked to be their baby's in-case-of-emergency guardian and how difficult this decision was. But it was this sentence stuck with me:
"They said they thought of us “since” (??) we aren’t planning to have children, which I found most perplexing a statement because why leave a child with a couple who doesn’t want their own kids?"Cue all the many feelings and emotions.
Assigning guardianship for minors is something I use to assume was easy. Growing up, the assumption was that you simply listed next-of-kin, be it grandparents or siblings. But that was before I began thinking about how children were raised, taking into account values and life-goals in the best of circumstances. Nevermind ending abuse cycles. The added element is seeing first-hand the generational effects when these decisions are poorly made as Grey's grandfather was orphaned at a young age, being raised by an aunt who, though she adored her own children, was far from stellar as an assigned guardian.
With all of this in mind, Grey and I have struggled for the past 5 years to assign emergency guardianship for Maddy and Teddy. Family members have been a hot topic, given that we either see them as unreliable/potentially dangerous or being completely maxed out with their own lives and families. With friends, it's been even more tricky, given that we know how life-altering this decision could be. Ideally, we want a home environment where Maddy and Teddy would be well cared for and loved without stressing out their guardians beyond repair. Hence finding a couple with one or even no children would seem initially ideal and part of Rita's comment touches on this mindset:
"They also said that they value our values, our outlook on life, our responsibility with money, level-headedness, etc. I was so anguished over this decision… my confidants tried to get me to see that this was a compliment to us."All of this seems like a great option until one considers something equally important: those who are not parenting often suffer the misguided assumption that their lives are somehow incomplete and that introducing a child/children into their lives will magically make it whole. That and the fact that their lot in life is to be solely to be emergency guardians or some secondary role.
Even though it was years ago, I remember the acute pain I felt as my mom begged Grey and me to adopt my cousin's son so that my aunt could remain his grandmother. Nevermind all the reasons this was an insanely bad idea, the fact my mom saw me solely as a placeholder made clear what I meant to her.
Something my mom is now desperately trying to deny given how my infertility journey ended.
This morning, I told Grey it was time we finalized emergency guardians for Maddy and Teddy. Though I have my ideal couples in mind, the reality is for many this brings about some sort of assumption that they would even want this burden. And even with these initial discussions comes the understanding that if that ideally there won't simply be one set of guardians guiding these kids, just as I have that same hope now.
Because the reality is Maddy's and Teddy's role isn't to fill some void; no more than people who are not parenting should be waiting in the wings to take on child-raising responsibilities. And those that make these assumptions need a reality check.
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Reset
The winter of my sophomore year at university, my dad gifted me a copy of the Weigh Down Diet. Always concerned with the size of my body, my mother was constantly sending me information about caloric restriction diets and tips of who to achieve a thin frame. None of which had the desired effect outside of poor body-image. So I was skeptical when I picked up this book from my dad, assuming this would be yet another fail.
I only finished the first half of the book, stopping when the author launched into incorporating the Christain faith into her philosophy, but the first half of the book immediately changed the way I viewed my relationship with food and how I viewed my body. Four months later at the end of the semester, my dad came to take me home for the summer and found me 15 lbs lighter with a new outlook on how I was feeding myself.
I've been thinking about the Weigh Down Diet over the past few years, given all the hype about Paleo, Keto, and Whole30 diet plans. The idea that certain foods are off-limits has brought back a lot of anxiety given that shame-based approaches tend to have the opposite of the attended effect. So when Cup of Jo had a post about Intuitive Eating, followed by many body positive posts, I found myself not only nodding along but also coming the realization that I was overdue for resetting my own eating habits.
So for the month of January, I'm taking a break from sugar. Currently, I'm three days into this process and suffering some serious withdrawal symptoms, which are oh so fun. But I know that without this reset, old patterns will be difficult to break making this a necessary step. In addition, I'm spending a lot of time listening to what my body is actually saying, honoring what it is asking for even though some of those desires would be considered poor ones for any of the traditional programs.
All of this is still odd, particularly given so there are many who are also embarking on their own eating-habits resolutions and this approach is very different from what they are doing. But just as I've learned to honor different aspects of other journies, so too will I be doing the same here; sharing this experience while supporting others in their own endeavors.
I only finished the first half of the book, stopping when the author launched into incorporating the Christain faith into her philosophy, but the first half of the book immediately changed the way I viewed my relationship with food and how I viewed my body. Four months later at the end of the semester, my dad came to take me home for the summer and found me 15 lbs lighter with a new outlook on how I was feeding myself.
I've been thinking about the Weigh Down Diet over the past few years, given all the hype about Paleo, Keto, and Whole30 diet plans. The idea that certain foods are off-limits has brought back a lot of anxiety given that shame-based approaches tend to have the opposite of the attended effect. So when Cup of Jo had a post about Intuitive Eating, followed by many body positive posts, I found myself not only nodding along but also coming the realization that I was overdue for resetting my own eating habits.
So for the month of January, I'm taking a break from sugar. Currently, I'm three days into this process and suffering some serious withdrawal symptoms, which are oh so fun. But I know that without this reset, old patterns will be difficult to break making this a necessary step. In addition, I'm spending a lot of time listening to what my body is actually saying, honoring what it is asking for even though some of those desires would be considered poor ones for any of the traditional programs.
All of this is still odd, particularly given so there are many who are also embarking on their own eating-habits resolutions and this approach is very different from what they are doing. But just as I've learned to honor different aspects of other journies, so too will I be doing the same here; sharing this experience while supporting others in their own endeavors.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
So this is the New Year
"So this is the new year
And I have no resolutions
For self assigned penance
For problems with easy solutions"
~ The New Year - Death Cab for Cutie
I'm not good with resolutions. The ideas surrounding "self-improvement" and "starting anew" usually leave me with a sense of guilt when things fall flat a few weeks out. Because of this, it's been years since I've really made a firm commitment to any lifestyle changes around this time of year all due to the realization that lasting change usually involves a lot of activation energy and shifts in mindsets, both of which requiring a lot of work.
But 2018 didn't end the way I was hoping. Yes, there's been a lot of good that happened that year, with Grey starting his current position, being rapidly tracked for leadership roles and seeing a lot of growth career-wise. And yes, Maddy and Teddy are doing amazingly well, with us not only seeing improvements following their surgeries but also thriving at school due to their teachers working with us to make sure a firm foundation is being built for their growth in the years to come. And yes, we are happy to be back on the West Coast, having easy access to hiking trails and ocean beaches while surrounded by a culture that Grey and I identify with.
But despite the good, I've been struggling. Ending my last contract after my boss changed her mind about bringing me in permanently and having to hire a lawyer to end the relationship was the wake-up call that its time to leave science education. Retooling is easier said than done, though, especially given that I don't have an industry track-record (a fairly common hurdle for anyone leaving academia that many acknowledge yet few have a solution for). On top of this, a side-product of me working with Teddy and Maddy is the realization that I likely have undiagnosed ADHD and that not addressing has actually done a lot of harm to me to date. All this on the heels of my parents recent freak-out, with me finding myself insanely angry over recognizing that not only did they miss this diagnosis with me (reminding me what a "bad child" I was and how they struggled so much with me), but also that I have to take on the role of "parent" with them, setting clear boundaries and unapologetically making it clear what is and is not acceptable.
So, this is the new year, with so much already on the horizon. Standing on the beach today with Grey, watching Teddy and Maddy play in the surf and sand, Grey and I made some resolutions about prioritizing self-care and sanity via getting lost in the woods or along the coast more and me seeking diagnosis/treatment. None of which will be done without some additional activation energy and establishing some firm boundaries.
And yet, I must confess that I'm also feeling energized to make these resolutions a reality. If for no other reason than knowing that though the self-assigned penance will require a lot of work, it is work that has clear rewards at the end.
And I have no resolutions
For self assigned penance
For problems with easy solutions"
~ The New Year - Death Cab for Cutie
I'm not good with resolutions. The ideas surrounding "self-improvement" and "starting anew" usually leave me with a sense of guilt when things fall flat a few weeks out. Because of this, it's been years since I've really made a firm commitment to any lifestyle changes around this time of year all due to the realization that lasting change usually involves a lot of activation energy and shifts in mindsets, both of which requiring a lot of work.
But 2018 didn't end the way I was hoping. Yes, there's been a lot of good that happened that year, with Grey starting his current position, being rapidly tracked for leadership roles and seeing a lot of growth career-wise. And yes, Maddy and Teddy are doing amazingly well, with us not only seeing improvements following their surgeries but also thriving at school due to their teachers working with us to make sure a firm foundation is being built for their growth in the years to come. And yes, we are happy to be back on the West Coast, having easy access to hiking trails and ocean beaches while surrounded by a culture that Grey and I identify with.
But despite the good, I've been struggling. Ending my last contract after my boss changed her mind about bringing me in permanently and having to hire a lawyer to end the relationship was the wake-up call that its time to leave science education. Retooling is easier said than done, though, especially given that I don't have an industry track-record (a fairly common hurdle for anyone leaving academia that many acknowledge yet few have a solution for). On top of this, a side-product of me working with Teddy and Maddy is the realization that I likely have undiagnosed ADHD and that not addressing has actually done a lot of harm to me to date. All this on the heels of my parents recent freak-out, with me finding myself insanely angry over recognizing that not only did they miss this diagnosis with me (reminding me what a "bad child" I was and how they struggled so much with me), but also that I have to take on the role of "parent" with them, setting clear boundaries and unapologetically making it clear what is and is not acceptable.
So, this is the new year, with so much already on the horizon. Standing on the beach today with Grey, watching Teddy and Maddy play in the surf and sand, Grey and I made some resolutions about prioritizing self-care and sanity via getting lost in the woods or along the coast more and me seeking diagnosis/treatment. None of which will be done without some additional activation energy and establishing some firm boundaries.
And yet, I must confess that I'm also feeling energized to make these resolutions a reality. If for no other reason than knowing that though the self-assigned penance will require a lot of work, it is work that has clear rewards at the end.