Exploring the Jungle - a Column by Mary Lott

The times, they are a-changin’ in the world of CAD

I blinked several times in the bright sunlight as I started down the stairs that had been rolled up to the airplane. The airport seemed strangely built, with two large buildings topped by tall, cone-shaped roofs. A man was at the bottom of the stairs, and we instantly recognized that…

The challenges of giving directions as a CAD patient

“Easy, easy,” I said in my most reassuring voice. “It’s very easy to get to my house. There are only two turns.” Despite that, the courier from the shipping company was telling me that I lived too far out in the jungle for him to possibly find my house and…

‘PACE’ yourself: How a CAD patient reclaims rest and repose

Inhaling deeply, I took in the clearness of the June morning. The zoysia grass in our front yard was thick and green and luscious, like a deep-pile carpet. Off in the distance, I could hear a hawk squawking at its mate. Some magnolia blossoms were on low-hanging branches nearby, and…

How napping benefits this knackered CAD patient

Looking out my window as I start to write this column, I see what appears to be a sunny day. But there’s a cloud covering the top part of the mountain, so it may not be sunny for long. My pets, Pokey and Ginger, are sound asleep. Should I get…

Diagnosing CAD is like looking for a grain of sand on the beach

I love a beach day. I’m always good for warm, salt-water therapy. The sun warms my bones, and sand crunching beneath my feet softens and smooths my callouses. As the waves gently lap ashore, all is peaceful and calm. Imagine being tasked with finding one special grain of sand on…

Like the stars, CAD is both constant and ever-changing

Tilting my head upward, I looked to the stars. There it was, the easiest constellation for me to identify: Orion. I identified it by the three stars in a row that make up his belt, and then looked down to his right side — my left — and saw the…

Taking time to stop and rest is crucial when living with CAD

I’m finding myself weary at the start of every day. Sleep doesn’t provide much calming rest, and I need time to focus myself before I begin any work. That’s frustrating! I want to “get cracking,” but the flesh doesn’t match my spirit. Then I came across a quote online (source…

Surviving ‘Snowmageddon’ with cold agglutinin disease

“Those look like snow clouds,” I said to my dad on a recent Sunday afternoon. “Those definitely look like snow clouds,” he responded. I’d warned him the previous Friday that snow was predicted for the following Tuesday. I remember Dad asking if I thought it would actually snow this time,…