We wake early in the morning on a July day, and by early, I mean 4 am, to head to the beach. We need to be at Malaquite Beach in front of the visitor center at South Padre Island National Seashore on North Padre Island in Corpus Christi by 6:30 am. After a short presentation by the park ranger on the history of the Ridley Turtles, we head down to the beach to watch the release of the hatchlings.
Let’s take a step back in time…
The Ridley Turtle is making a comeback, despite being on the critically endangered species list, due to the efforts of the National Park Service. The female turtle come onshore anywhere from mid-March through August to lay their clutch of eggs. Females nest every 1-3 years on the same beach where they were born. A female can have from 1 to 4 clutches per year with each clutch having an average of 100 eggs. When the Park Service finds a clutch of eggs, they gather them and take them to the hatchery. The eggs are incubated for 6-8 weeks at which time they will begin to hatch. Gender is determined by the temperature, the warm temperatures will hatch females, lower temperatures hatch males. Once hatched the baby turtles, no bigger than an Oreo cookie, will start to “frenzy” at which time they are ready to be released. If the weather is good, the Park Service will host a public release. Now back to our story…
If you are lucky enough to attend a release, you are not to wear white or use flash photography. The babies will follow the light, so they are released at daybreak. The baby turtles are not put directly into the water, they are turned loose on the beach and must make their way to the water. This journey takes the babies 20 minutes to 45 minutes. This journey is necessary to imprint the beach in their memory. The females will come back to this beach to nest when they are mature enough. The males do not return to shore, they live their whole life in the water. Park personnel and volunteers will hold nets over the babies as they make their way across the sand. Once in the water poles with flags are waved to keep the birds from having an easy buffet.
I have attended two releases and hope to attend another one this year. There is something about standing in a crowd of 100 plus people all there to cheer on these little turtles. Cheers erupt when the first baby enters the water, and no one leaves until the last has entered the waves. The cheers for the last is as loud as the cheers for the first. I have been changed by witnessing the releases and have commemorated the experience in some of my artwork.
This is a hard subject to write about as it is near and dear to my heart.
Like many of you, I had never heard of gastroparesis before, and certainly never knew anyone who suffered from this disease which has no cure. In 2016, my daughter, Kimberly, began feeling full after eating one or two bites of food. She would have bloating and severe pain of the stomach and would throw up several times per day. She would go to the doctor, and nothing would show up in any of their testing. She had several foods that were considered “safe” foods…mashed potatoes, smoothies, oatmeal, cream of rice, and rice. Soon, even these were making her sick. It seemed like every month she was going to the emergency clinic for dehydration due to uncontrolled regurgitation (vomiting) and pain. After a couple bags of saline solution, along with meds for nausea and pain, she would be sent home.
Finally, in 2018 we had some answers (of sorts). After participating in a GES (gastric emptying study), which was comprised of eating some eggs containing a radioactive isotope. After eating this delicious breakfast, she had images taken at various intervals (30 min, I hour, 2 hours, 4 hours) to see how much of the food was remaining in her stomach. After 4 hours less than 10% of your meal should be left in your stomach, Kim had over 60% remaining.
Kim was officially diagnosed with gastroparesis, and our long journey of education and advocacy was just beginning.
Kim had always been a healthy weight for her 5″1″ frame (approximately 115 lbs.). The end of 2020 Kim had drastically dropped weight, she was now 85 lbs., and losing weight daily. Her doctors put her on TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition) administered by a PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) in February 2021. She was attached to an IV pole each night with her formula. A home health nurse came weekly to run blood tests, weigh her, change dressings, etc. This information was used to adjust the vitamins, protein, and electrolytes in her formula for the week. Approximately 30,000 people receive 100% of their nutrition through their veins. With TPN feedings it is harder for the body to regulate its blood sugar levels. Kim also had infections in her PICC line, which resulted in the removal of the line.
The next step in the journey (May 2021) was the surgical insertion of a gastric stimulator (pacemaker), a pyloroplasty, and the insertion of a g-tube (gastrostomy tube). The gastric stimulator is a programmable device that generates electrical pulses which force the stomach to contract at certain intervals. A pyloroplasty widens the opening at the lower end of the stomach, known as the pylorus. This allows the contents of the stomach to pass into the first part of the small intestine. The g-tube gives direct access to the stomach for formula, hydration, venting air and gastric acid, and medicine. This happened at the perfect time. My husband retired in April, and I retired in May, so we were able to help with our granddaughters while Kim was down for the count with this extensive surgery. Kim gained weight and began having energy and stamina to do things again.
But…this was only the beginning, not the end. The constant nausea, throwing up, diarrhea, and monthly trips to the ER were taking its toll. It was determined that the formula was sitting too long in her stomach, and that was what was making her sick. The doctors decided to use her current stoma to replace the g-tube with a g/j tube (gastrostomy/jejunostomy). This is a tube that enters through the stomach and is threaded into the small intestine. The outside of the tube has 3 ports, which serve different purposes. The gastric port is used to vent air, drain stomach acid, and administer medicines. The jejunal port which sits in your small intestine is used for feeding. The third port is for the balloon which is inside your stomach and prevents the tubes from backing out of your body. Yay!!!!! She is at a healthy weight and all seems to be going well. She is still throwing up, but it seems to be manageable. Still going to the local ER clinic for nausea, pain, and fluids on a monthly basis.
Then the nausea gets out of hand. In the past 7 months, she has thrown up her g/j tube six times. Most of the time it stays coiled in her stomach, one time she threw up so hard it wound up in her esophagus. As you can imagine, none of this is pleasant. It is painful and means that she is not getting any nutrition as she has to drain her stomach contents almost on a continual basis.
Fast forward to February 27th of this year. Kim told us she thought she threw her tube up yet again, but nothing was going to keep her from celebrating her nephew’s birthday on the 28th. My husband took her to the local ER clinic on the 29th, and sure enough she had thrown it up. She was transported to Baylor St. Luke’s in Houston, where she was admitted once again, she is on a first name basis with the ER doctors. She had surgery earlier this month to separate. She currently has a g-tube, used for venting and administering medicines, and a j-tube for feeding.
She rocked one hole in her stomach, and I know she will definitely rock two. She is an advocate for gastroparesis awareness and will often wear two-piece swimsuits to start a conversation. Through all this she has maintained her beautiful smile and is a fantastic mother to her two daughters.
At this time there is no cure for gastroparesis, only treatment. We are praying that as more people are being diagnosed, more research will be done for possible cures.
Picture it. 1983, San Augustine, Texas. I don’t remember the exact day, but I remember exactly where I was. I was lounging in my garden tub, reading book, as was my habit. My husband, Clark, came in the house after work, and told me he had a surprise for me. i got out of the tub, wrapped a towel around me and went outside, we lived in the country, so no one was around to see.
Clark and I got married in 1977, at that time I had a 1968 Delmont 88, which I had gotten in 1974, as a graduation gift from my parents. I used this car throughout my college years at the University of Texas. It had its share of problems, namely a leaking water pump. I always had a 5-gallon bucket of water in the trunk to fill the radiator when the car would begin to run hot. **I at least knew enough not to ignore the lights when they came on ;)** When Clark graduated from UT, we moved to San Augustine, Texas. On the map, it looked beautiful, situated between Lake Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend Reservoir.
When we moved to San Augustine, Clark had a Ford Econoline van, which we purchased while living in Austin and attending college. He had taken this panel van and build in couches which converted to a large bed in the back and put in an ice box. He was pulling an 8′ X 36″ trailer, which we had purchased from a deer camp, that is another story in itself :), while I followed in my car.
Fast forward, I went outside and saw a brand-new Mercury Grand Marquis LS. Black with red velvet interior. It was a thing to behold, my very first brand new car. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I vowed I would take exceptional care of it. Then life happened.
After my youngest son was born, I had to have a hysterectomy. My husband was on the way to visit me in the hospital with my 2-year-old twins and my 1-year-old baby. when the oil pump went out. He had the car towed home, and we used our pick up until he could repair the car.
The back seat of the car eventually held 3 car seats at one time. It became the repository of goldfish, thrown milk bottles, and all sorts of other items thrown by 3 infants/toddlers. The car served us well, taking us to Edinburg, McAllen, Austin, and Houston Texas. It transported me to Nacogdoches to attend Stephen F. Austin University. Our family loved this car.
Time travel to 1991. We had traveled the Texas Forestry Service Indian Mounds Nursery in Alto, Texas. We had just purchased some pine and cypress saplings to plant at our farm. Uh oh, on our way home the car stopped in the middle of the road. We had the car towed home for Clark to repair. He replaced the water pump, no go. Thought it might be the oil pump again. Life got in the way and the car just set.
Jump to February this year. We finally decided it was time to get rid of our car, we weren’t going to be able to get it running and in good shape. We travelled to the farm this weekend and loaded it on a trailer. This week my very 1st new car will be going to a scrap yard. It is hard to turn loose of some things. This is one of them. I hate to see it go, but know it is for the best, I can’t hang on because of sentiment.
We opened the trunk; 1st time in 23 years. Any guesses on what we found?
A water pump, a compressor, and a computer box. Look at the size of that trunk! you could hide several bodies in it!
PS. We also found several coins. Who remembers using the ash trays as coin holders?
After getting off to what I thought was a good start, for someone who is not good at writing, I hit a major wall.
Life happened, Covid was in full control of the school system. Everything was shut down and we were teac ing online. How do you motivate students to engage in learning math, especially high school math, on the computer? I have to admit that I was struggling. The phrase often heard at this t ime was, “Grace before grades”.
In person teaching started back up in August 2020. I had some students who continued online, some were in person, some were going back and forth between online and in person…..OMG!!!!! Stop the madness, how is a teacher supposed to get students to master a subject when they are in and out of class?
I got caught up in the reality of everyday life. Getting to school at 6AM to record and post my lesson online. Being ready for tutorials at 7:25 AM. Teaching Algebra 1, Geometry, Math Models, and proctoring a College Algebra Class during the day. Working until 5PM, then going home to grade papers until 9PM. Such is the life of a teacher.
I loved my students, I really did. But enough is enough and I decided to retire effective May 2021.
When did I ever have time to work?????? It seems I am more busy in retirement than I was when I was working. I will save that for another time.
I am looking forward to being back, and I hope you will enjoy what thoughts I have to offer on this website.
Hi! My name is Laura and I would like to welcome you to the Square Root Garden. I have been married to the love of my life for over four decades. I am the mother of three grown children and the grandmother of two boys and two girls. My family means the world to me. By profession I am a high school math teacher. This year I have been contemplating retirement ( to give you an idea of how old I am).
Like many of you the Corona Virus pandemic has tipped my world upside down. Once the Governor closed the schools, I was thrown into the world of online teaching.
