Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Not Just the Sick Chick

Name calling isn't nice! It doesn't matter how old you are, calling someone a mean name is NOT COOL.

When I started getting really sick, missing out on school, sports, social engagements, people (old and young) didn't know how to react. They don't always know what to say to someone who is extremely ill, or just don't approach them at all. It's like we are a different kind of human. We get sorted into another kind of category, just as human races do.

I've been "bullied" I guess you could say...been called names, discriminated against, blah blah (not to the extreme of most others however). Sure, it's bothered me somewhat, it does everyone with a heart, but I try not to get mad. I pray for those people then and there; pray that they never have to go through what I have and that they learn to stop judging so harshly.

My personal name-calling favorite has always been "the sick girl". Oh the rumors that go with that title! Cancer, Alzheimers (? seriously), mentally disabled, once a rumor that I wasn't at school because I was preggo. Hmm, "the sick girl". Along with that title/stereotype, it's often thought that I am given things that I don't deserve. Hey, I'll go with it. Personally, I know that I earned it.

I'm kicking that nickname. Yes, I'm the "sick girl", but I am also.... Jenna Hansroth, non-stop talker, belly laugher, bright smiler, peppy people person, "Sunshine", constant eater, movie fanatic, vintage lover, big dreamer, faithful Catholic, 2011 Berkeley Springs Prom Queen, 2011 Miss Morgan County, and soon to be 2011 Graduate of Berkeley Springs High School.

Mmm, I'll take those names anytime! I'm almost happy that I've had people give me that nickname to an extent. I've learned to let things roll off my shoulders more and try to judge less. I hope that those kids do the same. Name calling isn't nice. No matter how old you are. And in the real world, it can bite you in the butt.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

I Think I can, I Think I can...

Preparing for my senior prom was no easy task, I'm not going to lie. Supermom made it a success, once again. Though she didn't think we could. None of my family thought we could.


The right shoes that wouldn't give me blisters and that I could dance in.

The best hairstyle that wouldn't show hair loss.

The perfect schedule of the day so I couldn't get worn out.

Not to mention the after-prom we held at my Grandma's house! (Mom's and Grandma's idea, such party animals! Haha!)

Making sure my AWESOME date understood my circumstances.

Predosing meds on an exact schedule to HOPEFULLY make the night successful.


...I won't leave you in suspense. It was the PERFECT senior prom!!

Part 1 of Yay! My date, is a great guy! Dinner at a BFF's house, stopping at our grandparents' houses, swinging my other friend's house, finally got to the dance.


Part 2 of Yay! We hand our ticket to the staff checking everyone in, where we see the ballot for prom court. Wow, not expecting it AT ALL, I'm on there. Win? I doubt it, but super-excited to just be on the court!!


Part 3 of Yay! We walk into the wing where the dance was being held. The decorations look wonderful. The coolest teachers/chaperones were there, having a good time along with us.


Part 4 of Yay! Tyler (my date) isn't afraid at all of dancing or looking goofy (same as me!!) No one is dancing yet, so we get in the middle and start them dancing! Impressive, Tyler, if I say so myself.


Part 5 of Yay! We looped around the room several times, seeing just about everyone, dancing hard the whole time thus far. My feet didn't hurt and none of the neurological stuff happened.


Part 6 of Yay! Time to announce the Prom King and Queen. Queen first. I'll admit...I was talking, as usual and not paying much attention. I would have bet $100 on the girl I thought would win. What? They said "2011 Prom Queen is Jenna Hansroth!" Seriously? I get my crown and my smiling, shining moment (we all know I love being in front of a crowd and am a total "ham"). Prom King is Brenton Arrington! An amazing friend! Whoa, talk about lucky! Our peers loved us enough to give us that award that secretly everyone wants. We won, had our dance, and got pictures taken. Celebrities for the night!


Part 7 of Yay! As I walk into the lobby shortly after winning my title, I hear "she got it because she's the sick girl." You're thinking how is that a "yay part'?! Because I'm starting to understand people more. I can smile on the outside, as mean as it is, because I can still think 'nanny nanny boo boo, I beat you!' And I smile thinking about all of the "congrats" I am getting along with the negative comment. I thought of Sally Fields line: "They like me! They really really like me!" That made me smile.


Part 8 of Yay! We had a fabulous after-prom party that Mama and Gramcracker (Grandma) threw. Fun games! Nacho bar! Sweat pants and hoodies! Ahh-mazing!


FANTASTIC PART: I had a great time at prom, and didn't pay for it like I did last year! I'll admit, I felt it all week, but kept chugging away. "I think I can, I think I can. Nope, I KNOW I can." Last year, prom wiped me out of 2 weeks. It was 100% worth it, but I really was knocked out. You know what all of this means, right?! Slowly but surely, I'm getting better. I don't know how long it will take for me to be back to "normal", but reminding myself of this progress makes me THRILLED!!!

My new Mission and Reminder

I love Facebook. Facebook is my addiction. Even when I can't read or write, I have Mom get on mine for me, read me "statuses, comments", show me new pictures and respond to anything directed for me.

Facebook has its great parts along with its downfalls, as most everything does.

Positives: Keeps you in contact with others, get back in touch with old friends, entertainment, a way to share what's happening in your life, a news sorce...there are many more of course, but these are probably the most obvious.

Negatives: You can get addicted (me), there's the risk of cyber bullying (never had that experience, thank heavens!), you can see people's "real personalities"- how they act when you're not face-to-face, what they think about others, and often times, their hatred towards others. That last one is probably my least favorite, but the other negative that gets to me a little is the excessive whining.

Everyone gets down in the dumps or ill, some more than others. I guess it's not necessarily the whining that gets to me, but the negativity that goes along with it.

"I'm so sick of having this cold. I want to hang out with my friends!"

"He has the flu, so we can't go to the movies tonight."

"Ugh, SO bored."

"I hate my school. HATE it."

One more haha - "My parents are making me get a job this summer. For real?!"

Now on to my mission or reminder for people... It's simple, kind of funny, and as cheesy as it is, it made me feel clever. Haha!

Find the HAPPY in the crappy.

Pretty easy to remember, right? What I remind myself of everytime I go to complain! So, let me see if I can fix those "statuses" up there.

"I'm so sick of having this cold. I want to hang out with my friends!" Let's add..."but it's a great reason to have a movie day." or "now I can catch up on schoolwork" or "at least Grandma made me her awesome chicken noodle soup"! (I'm sure there's something someone could add!)

"He has the flu, so we can't go to the movies tonight." Maybe the ending could be... "Maybe I'll head to my Grandparents house and watch one with them." or "This would be a cool chance to play a game with my brother; I haven't had time." or "Since we can't go, maybe we could skype! That might actually make him feel better!" (Just a few off the top of my head)

"Ugh, SO bored." How about... "I'm going to talk to my parents; I don't see them much." or "This'll give me a chance to clean my car out - lots of McDonalds wrappers." or best of all "I could go volunteer somewhere."

"I hate my school. HATE it." Maybe thinking this would help... "At least I have a school I can go to that has air conditioning, computers and bathrooms that work." or be thankful for what the school has given you. An education. What you need to be successful. Be thankful for the teachers, most of whom, you'll never forget.

"My parents are making me get a job this summer. For real?!" ... "BUT I'll have more money to spend to get things I want." or "Maybe I'll meet a good contact for the future." or "Maybe I'll meet someone funny - the kid from my class always talks about funny stories from him working there."

Find the HAPPY in the crappy. Sometimes it's hard to do, but sometimes it's the ONLY thing you can do. We can't change our circumstances most of the time, but we can change our attitude about it. I'm really trying my best. My past Facebook "status" : "5/15/11 Find the HAPPY in the crappy: I had treatment and feel terrible BUT it gives me the chance to look out the window by my bed and see everything going on outside. There's so much to notice when we take the time to really look." So, I'm really trying! My friends and family are too and doing great! Can you?