Funny Things That Happened
A few months ago, we let our chickens out into our fenced yard—and a fox found its way in. Ever since then, our feathered friends don’t get yard time without supervision and loud music. The theory is that noise will scare off anything that doesn’t belong, and so far, it’s worked.
Today, we let the chickens, ducks, and geese roam free while blasting my “medical jam” playlist pretty loudly. A few hours later, my husband came in laughing. He told me we had an Amazon delivery, and when I checked the security footage, I couldn’t stop laughing.
The poor delivery driver walked down the path, dropped off the package, and then stood there smiling broadly, scanning the area for the source of the sound. To him, it must have looked like Club Chicken.
Now I can’t get the image out of my head—chickens glammed up, strutting in sequins, ready to hit the dance floor. AI, please, to the rescue!
Two years ago today, I underwent a colon re-sectioning. I am told that I woke up from the surgery just fine and that it was a text book procedure. We were able to do it laparoscopically. I remember everything leading up to when I was wheeled off through secret squirrel doors that lead to the surgical suits. I remember being terrified that something was going to go wrong, not to mention that a friend of mine told me that I was going to survive but the recovery was going to be very hard. She was right.
So much has happened since then. I am still an artist, but now I’ve combined my love of healing with my love of art. I have the privilege of bringing art enrichment to patients and staff at the hospital, and I can’t believe there was ever a time I wasn’t doing this work. I’ve truly found my calling.
In addition, I am pursuing a master’s degree in Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida. It has been an incredible experience, and I’ve felt deeply supported by the faculty in everything I’m doing. Everything I learn in class goes with me into the hospital, and whenever I encounter challenges or questions, the faculty is there to help me find thoughtful solutions.
Looking back, I know that without my hospital stay—and everything that happened before and after it—I would not be here today, in this place. There have been many challenges, both medical and personal. I still remind myself daily to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Some days are harder than others, but the process is the same.
Over the next 64+ days, I plan to share more of my story: the struggles, the challenges, the wins, and the lessons. My hope is that, in doing so, I might offer something that helps someone else keep moving forward, one step at a time, toward their own new path.
To read 1 year ago: https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-1-2024
