Welcome

My name is Alyssa, and I am seventeen years old.

In the early months of this year, I began to feel pain in my left hand thumb. Just stiffness at first, but after a few days it was almost impossible to bend it at all. This was in the middle of my most recent move, so I tried to brush it off and ignore it. During the day the pain would wear off, so by nightfall it barely hurt any more.

A few weeks later the pain spread to other fingers on my left hand. It became impossible to live with, particularly in the morning. To bend it made me feel like there were a thousand needles being injected up my thumb and into my arm. By the end of the month I could not use my thumb at all.

I grew worried as Advil didn't help and the pain got worse almost daily. By the time my mom and I wanted to see a doctor, family emergencies came piling in. We delayed seeing my doctor for almost another month. In April, I finally was able to go to the clinic. This is the recording of the events since that time, mostly for family and friends to follow.

But you know I know better
I'm not gonna worry 'bout nothing
Cause if the birds and the flowers survive
Then I'll make it okay
...
'Cause You knew how You'd save me
before I fell dead in the garden
And You knew this day
long before You made me out of dirt
...
And You know the plans that You have for me
And You can't plan the end and not plan the means
And so I suppose I just need some peace
Just to get me to sleep.
-Table For Two, Caedmon's Call