Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2022! This year has been quite a good year for us up until my birthday last month. The year is ending with the loss of my father in law, Ray. Which is horrible for my husband, his brother and our family. He will be missed. I take strength in knowing he is with God and in peace. This next year will be a year of change and transition. It gives me great pause and made me think of those who have helped me live better with chronic illnesses.
Acknowledgements and Thanks!
I would like to acknowledge those who have helped me through this life-changing ordeal of RSD in significant ways. First and foremost, the Holy Trinity, God our Father, Jesus his son and the Holy Spirit for his strength and guidance when I am weak; for taking away my anxiety and allowing me to create the tools to cope with RSD. My faith has kept me on a strong spiritual path. Without the knowledge that I am saved and that everything will be ok and I just have to keep LIVING, I would have had many times that I could have given up.
My husband Ken, who has stood by me before we were even dating and has helped me every step of the way on a daily basis. He has been a dream and the most supportive of all the caretakers I know. Other patients and caretakers look up to him as much as I do, and he is great beyond words.
My father Jim who has been there for me while I was growing up as well as through my RSD ordeal. He traveled to me for most of my surgeries and my lawsuit and has started the Power of Pain Foundation, actively spreading awareness and education of RSD. My husband and I have been able to turn to him for moral support and advice, and he has always been there for me. He helped me create the Wisdom of Ingle book as a project to document our family history and to offer a light-hearted read to readers. This project kept me busy for many years and gave me a project when I needed to get my mind off of pain. It was also a way to bring the family even closer together as all of my siblings and spouses participated in the book in some way.
My siblings, with whom I have been extremely close since childhood. Jimmy, Marby and Timmy who have stood by me through the darkest days and the brightest moments even before the dreaded darkness of RSD. They are all successful in their own right and the drive and determination in all we do has kept me on course and not allowed me to give up.
Dr. Mark Rubin, my pain management doctor, from the Arizona Center for Pain Relief in Phoenix, AZ. For being the first doctor to listen to me and put all the pieces together. You were the first doctor I had seen in the last 6 years since the accident who actually took the time to do what would help me. Thank you also for the referral to Dr. Hummel. You have made my life bearable and I am forever grateful.
Dr. Matthew Hummel, my general practitioner of the Foundation Hills Family Practice in Foundation Hills, AZ. Thank you for working with my pain management doctor to get me the best care available. Your ability to provide excellent care and support has been tremendously helpful in my everyday challenges. I wish everyone a doctor as caring and helpful as you are.
Brett Slavicek, my first friend in Arizona. Thank you for taking me on as a client and helping me fire my first attorney. God put you in my life to serve a major role in helping me, and you came through. You were the first to help me find a purpose after the accident, and you created a job for me when no one else would hire me. When I was at the bottom of my ordeal, your guidance lifted me up. I loved being a legal assistant for you. It taught me new life skills that I could never have learned in my cheerleading career.
There have been so many others who have helped me along the way. I would not be as well adjusted or supported without you: Jodi Dragon for being my best friend and a supporter in this pain fight; Vance Hudson & Rob Kronenberg for your support and allowing me the opportunities to speak to others about pain and my experience; the RSDHope staff for choosing me to mentor other patients; Todd Ellenbecker, PT, & Dr. Ed Tingstad, orthopedic, for your great medical care and advice. All of the volunteers and board members of the Power of Pain Foundation (iPain) for their confidence and support of me and RSD awareness.
By Barby Ingle, Author, Patient, Wife, Sister, Aunt.
