Shay Haberstroh

70 days admitted, 8 spent intubated, 5 emergency surgeries, 1 permanently disabled body and a whole lot of grief. Yet, every year I spend another awake is an extra gift in itself. My husband said to me today “hey you woke up today again, keep doing that” and that’s the best way I can describe how it all feels. 😭✨🤣❤️‍🩹

Everyday I learn something new about life with missing front teeth and it just really humbles me

Life goals: get healthy enough to live long to have more time with my favorite person ❤️‍🩹

Another part of the dental process today. I’m actually so nervous this is another step towards the end result!! 🥲❤️‍🩹 And one comment about my hair is one less comment about a medical condition of mine that I had no control over. A win is a win somewhere. :’) I’m nearing almost a month with my gaps, it feels so weird!! Sometimes I forget about them sometimes I’m haunted by how it makes me feel lol. Trying to play out all my procedures for dental, endometriosis and now dealing with Crohn’s issues all in between each other and one month without some of my teeth flew by way too easily! 🥲❤️‍🩹

Not to mention the plethora of other factors… I’m a medically complex patient and my teeth are a result of that so I can’t just be seen by a dental student, a teaching school or something that isn’t a dentist without knowledge on my genetic illness. A lot of people suggest flying, but again as someone complexly disabled: I don’t travel. I also can’t afford to, nor would I know if the accessibility would be there. It’s a risk all on its own for something in total price that would still be extremely expensive. I have to prioritize my other physical illnesses that are currently flaring and in medical treatments and sometimes that does actually mean neglecting other health issues, for awhile that had to be my teeth. From finances, from severity of other illness, from medical trauma. I make my quirky little posts now because this is just another complication of my comorbid illnesses and it’s good awareness to dental stigmas that run so negatively. Being told to just fix it, is another sign of actually being told that someone doesn’t want to see that… which is not my problem and not my issue to cater to. You just fix it. ✨❤️‍🩹🫣🦷

I’ll never understand how an ostomy bag is the absolute end of the world to some. I’ll also never quite understand how comfortable those without one, feeling telling those with an ostomy bag, how much it determines worth. No, this isn’t the first choice in life, but the choice IS to live. I’ve lived in a diaper, I’ve lived with two ostomy bags, I’ve lived with an intestine internally killing me and I’ve now lived without an intestinal tract… and every time my health drastically changed: I just wanted to keep living. You truly have no idea what you would do, when you in the middle of the unknown. I know it’s easier to spew hate when you fear what you do not know, but this is a situation anyone could be put into. You, your parent, your partner, your friend, the grandma you care for, your favorite teacher, a coworker, your children, your infant of 2 days… I can promise you a little bit of more knowledge stored in your pocket is going to make you a better person when you least expect it. It’s okay to desensitize your mind when it comes to health problems. ❤️‍🩹

The world is better with you in it, Zak, because truthfully I see no world without you now. The amount of hope for life I have again solely from the depths of your love is something I cherish every single day I still wake up, especially to you. Thank you for being the ultimate life partner, for proving in sickness and in health and for giving me a love that defies everything else. Four years ago we barely knew each other when we went to the courthouse and yet I would still do it all over again, without a doubt. Being your wife is the best adventure of this life yet. Happy anniversary 🥹❤️‍🩹✨ @Lessons