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fathernathan

@fathernathan

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Dyslexic author. Former priest. Depressive humorist.

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The other day, a kid asked me if I was a wizard because of my cane, and I didn’t have any magic to oblige the little fella. Immediately upon returning home, I purchased six small tricks and a little leather pouch. I may have failed this moment, but it will not happen again. I am ready for my Gandalf era. by @fathernathan

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7 days ago

They say laughter is the best medicine, and I can confirm how true that expression is after this past week.

Not only did I remain a cutup the entire time I was in the hospital, but also the ways my friends and colleagues who reached out or visited kept healthy doses of levity flowing in our interactions were much appreciated. This was quite literally one of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced, and I couldn’t have endured it without all your kindness.

Before my hospitalization, I had made two plans I was really looking forward to. I had no idea how important those things would become after I got out.

A few days after escaping, my friend Trevor accompanied me to see AJ Wilkerson. I had seen clips of their comedy online, but seeing them in person was an absolute joy. As a comedian, it’s sometimes difficult to sit back and enjoy a show. It’s kind of like being a magician and trying to deconstruct the trick. However, AJ is so good at their craft that I was instantly transported into laughter.

After being discharged, I’m using a cane because I’m losing function in my left arm, which is causing my balance to be off, and standing without somewhere to place my weight is difficult. Being able to see a comedian talk so freely about their challenges and limitations was a treat I couldn’t have planned better for my first outing.

After that, I went to a friend’s end-of-summer party because many of the folks there were the ones who visited me or checked in while I was exiled from the world.

An acquaintance scolded me for being out. I guess because I already was in self-advocacy mode from my time at the hospital, I pushed back in real time. I think what I told them is significant to share.

“Listen, I’m not any different person or in any more or less pain this side of getting answers about what’s going on with me than I was in the weeks before going to the hospital. What is different now is I have answers and a plan. But I’m not now someone who must be hidden away because I now know why I’m hurting.” (Cont.) by @fathernathan

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8 days ago

Proof of life.

Also accepting applications for cuffing season if you’d like to fall for me in autumn and break my heart come spring. by @fathernathan

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12 days ago

I’m back home and resting. I got a lot of big news this week. The first series of those answers is that I’ve been diagnosed with esophagitis, a hiatal hernia, and pneumonia. The wildest part is none of those symptoms are what brought me into the emergency room the other night. These were just little toy surprises in the cereal box of my hospital stay.

What got me here is that after a week of extreme pain in my shoulder, numbness in my arm, and fingers, I finally couldn’t take it anymore. They were symptoms similar to what got me into the emergency room three months ago that resulted in no answers.

After some significant self-advocating and an MRI later, I now know that I’ve been living with cervical osteophytes, which are essentially bone spurs growing off my discs, causing a mass effect on the cord and compression of the nerve root. Because I can’t do anything without being a little extra, I’ve got two bulging discs as well. That explains a great deal about the tremendous pain I’ve been living with for months.

I’ve got a longer explanation up and I’ll post that in my story. Anyway, we journey forward. by @fathernathan

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16 days ago

Dear friends, fans, and foes:

This isn’t quite the health update I wanted to give, but it’s where I’m at.

If you’ve been following along, you’ll remember that I went to the hospital a few months ago with some concerning symptoms. This became the night of my fateful accident that overshadowed everything else.

Over the last week, I began experiencing some pretty significant shoulder pain in my left shoulder. That resulted in numbness in my arm and hands. About a day ago, I began having a cough that exacerbated everything.

I went to the emergency room last night around 7:30 and underwent an EKG, CT Scan, X-Ray, and they took more blood from me than a vampire on her moon cycle looking to fix an iron deficiency.

A little before midnight, they let me know I would need to be transferred to the hospital to undergo further tests and observation. After a lovely night’s sleep in the emergency room, I’ve finally made that transfer, and now we wait together for answers.

I wish I had more time to write, but this is a rare moment when I haven’t been doped up, poked, or probed.

As soon as I’m able, I’ll update y’all further. by @fathernathan

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19 days ago

by @fathernathan

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a month ago

by @fathernathan

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a month ago

by @fathernathan

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a month ago

by @fathernathan

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2 months ago

I realized today that my last post on here was from my hospital visit, and I didn’t want to Mitch McConnell y’all, so here is proof of life. I’m still in the process of recovering, but this is a photo from one of the first nights that I actually went out to be a person again. I’m working on a long update about my recent medical journey, but until I get all of that done, just know that I am alive. I’ll be a little slower and worse for the wear, but I'm making it. Thank you to everyone that checked in on me, even if I wasn’t able to get back to everyone; your text, DMs, and emails meant the world to me. It was really nice to know that so many people cared that I was still here. by @fathernathan

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3 months ago

by @fathernathan

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3 months ago

Hey friends, I’m alive. But I could have never imagined all that the least 24 hours was going to bring. I’ve written a lengthy update and you can find it in my bio. As for now, I’m going to be doing a lot of resting. I love y’all bunches. by @fathernathan

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4 months ago