Yesterday was my 23rd birthday. That means it has officially been a year since law school stuff started for me. I spent the day helping welcome the new generation of 1Ls and being oriented to the law journal I am a staff member of. I met up with some friends at school and then I had a nice dinner with some great girls.
Everything seemed to be going relatively well until I got home. I was really sore from my run earlier in the day so I took some pain relievers. Next, my lip started swelling up and I took some Benadryl and went to bed. I woke up a couple of hours later only to have some trouble breathing. Upon consulting a nurse's hotline, I realized I needed to go to the Emergency Room. A friend of mine was so great and drove me to the hospital while I was freaked out and just plain scared.
To preface everything, this summer I developed some autoimmune issues. I would randomly, for no apparent reason, get hives and inflammation that would linger for hours frequently. Luckily, I do not have any food allergies. My allergist, however, said that I have slightly lower levels of white blood cells and higher levels of thyroid antibodies and chronic urticaria. What this basically means is that I have antibodies that sometimes attack my body instead of foreign pathogens. Unfortunately, the allergist said that there is no way to know how long the problem will exist, what specifically triggers the symptoms, and when the symptoms even would occur. Thankfully, the symptoms were more of a nuisance than a big safety issue and he prescribed allergy medicine and histamine blockers.
Tonight, at the hospital, I was hooked up to an IV containing Benadryl and steroids to calm down my inflammation and my throat constriction. It took a couple of hours and drowsiness that led me to nap until progress started showing and I could breath pretty normally. The doctor said that my autoimmune issues this time caused my throat tissues to swell up and thus caused my air passageway to shrink, making it hard for me to breathe. So it was a good idea for me to go to the hospital after all. She prescribed me steroids to take for the next week to hopefully keep any symptoms at bay.
My terrible scary night really showed me that I am loved by my friends. From the texts to the phone calls to the Facebook messages, I could tell that my friends were genuinely worried and cared about my well being. One of them even brought me an ice cream cake today to help make up for the fact that my night was so awful. My cousin brought me soup too. It also made me realize that life is not always going to be easy and I will have challenges to face, but I am so thankful that the ones I face are really miniscule compared to the ones people with terminal illnesses face. I will have to consult more specialists to see if they can figure out what the underlying problem is and how I can fix things so I do not have any dangerous symptoms like not being able to breathe in the future.
So I guess I started my 23rd year a lot differently than I had planned to. I am an extremely blessed girl and want to use the blessings I have been given to love others and be the best person I can be for others.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Back to Boston
I have been back in Boston for almost a week now, which signifies that the summer is really coming to a close. Unfortunately, Boston weather is anything but "end of summer weather" because it is incredibly hot and humid. I actually played ultimate frisbee in Boston Common (the oldest park in the United States) and it was almost unbearable; at the same time, it was a pretty cool experience to have.
My summer back in California was great; it was an amazing time for me to get some work experience, think about my goals, and also work A LOT on my faith. All these things showed me that this next year will be a very tough one for me, figuring out what I want to do (which is not big law!) and who I am, but it will be so good as well. This next semester will be busy with civil litigation clinic, working on a journal, job searching for government and public service jobs, getting involved with a church, and of course, training for a FULL (I officially decided to make the bump up to a full marathon) marathon. I am so so excited to be working on myself and pursuing my interests.
My summer back in California was great; it was an amazing time for me to get some work experience, think about my goals, and also work A LOT on my faith. All these things showed me that this next year will be a very tough one for me, figuring out what I want to do (which is not big law!) and who I am, but it will be so good as well. This next semester will be busy with civil litigation clinic, working on a journal, job searching for government and public service jobs, getting involved with a church, and of course, training for a FULL (I officially decided to make the bump up to a full marathon) marathon. I am so so excited to be working on myself and pursuing my interests.
Friday, July 24, 2009
23 and battling Leukemia...
Here is another shining example of the need for research for those with Leukemia. It comes close to home because I know many of us have dealt with not having health insurance for periods of time and we often put off taking care of the health concerns we face. Also, having someone close to our age be afflicted with the blood cancer is a scary reality too, especially because we usually associate blood cancers with young children.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/24/king.sotu.health.care/index.html
Please take the time to read the stories I post or to look at my fundraising page and support me through my own physical challenge and also invest yourself in the important research that still needs to be done.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/ma/wdw10/sliuie
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/24/king.sotu.health.care/index.html
Please take the time to read the stories I post or to look at my fundraising page and support me through my own physical challenge and also invest yourself in the important research that still needs to be done.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/ma/wdw10/sliuie
Monday, July 20, 2009
Just one example...
Here is just one example of someone who will be helped by fundraising efforts to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
http://jordanscause.blogspot.com/
I saw his story on the news this weekend and it reminds us how much research is necessary to eliminate this heartbreaking stress on patients and their families.
Please support my race for LLS in any way you can; the cause and I would appreciate it immensely.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/ma/wdw10/sliuie
http://jordanscause.blogsp
I saw his story on the news this weekend and it reminds us how much research is necessary to eliminate this heartbreaking stress on patients and their families.
Please support my race for LLS in any way you can; the cause and I would appreciate it immensely.
http://pages.teamintrainin
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Embarking on a new journey
I have made the decision to train for and fundraise for the Walt Disney World half marathon on January 10, 2010.
Given that I have asthma and have never been an intense runner, this is a huge deal for me. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time and the fact that I will be helping a great cause (research for blood cancers through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) amplifies how important this challenge is to me. I have been lucky not to lose any family members to cancer, but know of so many friends of friends, family friends, and the like who have lost the battle to different kinds of cancers. Making progress in research for cancer is so important and with government funding declining in virtually every area, it is vital that we don't let research become stagnant.
I will be updating this blog from time to time regarding my training and my goals. I hope that you will be along for the ride and will help support me with all of this. Here is the link to my fundraising site: http://pages.teamintraining.org/ma/wdw10/sliuie
Please share what you can with the cause and also share this link with those who would be interested in becoming active for the cause.
On a lighter note, a quote from "How I Met Your Mother":
Barney: Here's how you run a marathon. Step 1: You start running. There's no Step 2.
(If you've seen the episode, you know that Barney fails miserably. He finishes the marathon, but then is pretty much incapacitated because he never trained for the event.)
Given that I have asthma and have never been an intense runner, this is a huge deal for me. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time and the fact that I will be helping a great cause (research for blood cancers through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) amplifies how important this challenge is to me. I have been lucky not to lose any family members to cancer, but know of so many friends of friends, family friends, and the like who have lost the battle to different kinds of cancers. Making progress in research for cancer is so important and with government funding declining in virtually every area, it is vital that we don't let research become stagnant.
I will be updating this blog from time to time regarding my training and my goals. I hope that you will be along for the ride and will help support me with all of this. Here is the link to my fundraising site: http://pages.teamintraining.org/ma/wdw10/sliuie
Please share what you can with the cause and also share this link with those who would be interested in becoming active for the cause.
On a lighter note, a quote from "How I Met Your Mother":
Barney: Here's how you run a marathon. Step 1: You start running. There's no Step 2.
(If you've seen the episode, you know that Barney fails miserably. He finishes the marathon, but then is pretty much incapacitated because he never trained for the event.)
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Dip-Dyed Sky
July 4th marks Independence Day and is conveniently just about the halfway marker of my summer break.
This year, I watched the fireworks display in our state's capital, Sacramento. I have always been a huge sucker for fireworks, which bring me awe and delight. For 2009, fireworks displays have been cut or downsized in many cities due to the weak economy. California definitely did not skimp this year and it seemed like it brought a sense of renewed hope and optimism for the future of our state, which is at a pretty dismal point right now.
Usually, I gaze up at the fireworks giddily...today was not an exception, but I also felt oddly more connected to our country than I have before. I shed a few tears when I realized all the legal and literal battles that our countrymen have endured to get America where it is today. Sadly, there are many many more battles to be fought. California, in particular, has to fight for its economy, its schools, and of course, its citizens' right to marry.
I think I see now more than ever that we all have to fight for something...and I am still struggling to find my purpose and my fight.
What's your battle?
This year, I watched the fireworks display in our state's capital, Sacramento. I have always been a huge sucker for fireworks, which bring me awe and delight. For 2009, fireworks displays have been cut or downsized in many cities due to the weak economy. California definitely did not skimp this year and it seemed like it brought a sense of renewed hope and optimism for the future of our state, which is at a pretty dismal point right now.
Usually, I gaze up at the fireworks giddily...today was not an exception, but I also felt oddly more connected to our country than I have before. I shed a few tears when I realized all the legal and literal battles that our countrymen have endured to get America where it is today. Sadly, there are many many more battles to be fought. California, in particular, has to fight for its economy, its schools, and of course, its citizens' right to marry.
I think I see now more than ever that we all have to fight for something...and I am still struggling to find my purpose and my fight.
What's your battle?
Monday, June 1, 2009
Summertime
My summer has started off spectacularly (and with a great tan!) this year with a short stint in Taiwan and Vietnam. The maternal side of my family all met up in Asia to celebrate the 60 year anniversary of my grandparents' marriage.
Being back in Taiwan was incredible because it feels so much like home to me. We got to revisit some of the places I fell in love with last year and also see some things I did not have the chance to see before. Also, who could forget the amazing food and nightlife that Taiwan has to offer? I could not and was happy to experience it all over again. There is something about the island that I cannot get enough of.
We also visited Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, and Phu Quoc Island. Vietnam definitely showed me its "developing" status and it was hard to see that the disparity of wealth between tourists and locals is so so skewed. We took a full day tour of the Mekong Delta through which tens of people served us in some way and the tour only cost $10 a head. It makes no sense to me that people should have to survive off of roughly $2 a day and live inexplicably indigent lives. Vietnam had some incredibly gorgeous sights and delicious food, but I still cannot get over the poverty and amount of development the country needs to undergo.
People thought it was strange that we visited Vietnam for a family reunion, but I guess that leads to the story that my grandparents actually fled China and first came through Vietnam (Phu Quoc, specifically) for a few years before making it to Taiwan. Hearing their stories of getting away from oppression and all the struggles they had to endure really puts my life into perspective and makes me respect them even more than I already do. They overcame so many obstacles to brighten their lives and subsequently their children and my own; I cannot even begin to explain how appreciative I am for them. Through it all, they have kept strong to their faith, their love, and to their family. I can only wish to be as strong as them someday.
Being back in Taiwan was incredible because it feels so much like home to me. We got to revisit some of the places I fell in love with last year and also see some things I did not have the chance to see before. Also, who could forget the amazing food and nightlife that Taiwan has to offer? I could not and was happy to experience it all over again. There is something about the island that I cannot get enough of.
We also visited Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, and Phu Quoc Island. Vietnam definitely showed me its "developing" status and it was hard to see that the disparity of wealth between tourists and locals is so so skewed. We took a full day tour of the Mekong Delta through which tens of people served us in some way and the tour only cost $10 a head. It makes no sense to me that people should have to survive off of roughly $2 a day and live inexplicably indigent lives. Vietnam had some incredibly gorgeous sights and delicious food, but I still cannot get over the poverty and amount of development the country needs to undergo.
People thought it was strange that we visited Vietnam for a family reunion, but I guess that leads to the story that my grandparents actually fled China and first came through Vietnam (Phu Quoc, specifically) for a few years before making it to Taiwan. Hearing their stories of getting away from oppression and all the struggles they had to endure really puts my life into perspective and makes me respect them even more than I already do. They overcame so many obstacles to brighten their lives and subsequently their children and my own; I cannot even begin to explain how appreciative I am for them. Through it all, they have kept strong to their faith, their love, and to their family. I can only wish to be as strong as them someday.
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