Somewhere in 1992 I got a bump on my private area and tried anything I knew to get rid of it. Nothing worked, I tried everything. In March 1993 I went to the health dept to get it checked because I had no insurance and they went on income or free. I went in and the doctor said I needed to immediately go get a biopsy at the general hospital. I did and it was CANCER, the worst kind of skin cancer and that I should have come in allot sooner. So the plan of action was that these cancer doctors were going to do surgery on me, and let's just say it was not gonna be fun and included several months in the hospital to recover and for reconstruction. About 2 days before surgery I was in clinic for pre op and the head doctor from Loma Linda Medical center was visiting clinic and reviewed my case and saved me. he said he wanted me up at Loma Linda in their cancer treatment center. I was there in 2 days. I spent 5 days in hospital getting pumped full of chemo and radiation, then I went home, and returned daily for radiation. My daughter moved home with me to take care of me and get me the 30 miles to treatment everyday. Sometimes I was soooo sick she had to drag me there. A few times I wished I died. It is no fun at all. after 5 weeks I went in hospital again for 5 days of chemo again, and more radiation. When it was all over the cancer was gone. And so far it is still gone. In 1995 I was sitting at a friends apt yacking, it was summer and about 96 degrees outside and I was frozen, and getting more cold, and my friend got me a blanket, and then another. I couldn't get warm and started feeling very bad. I decided I better get to the emergency room, and I drove with Kiki to keep me company. They took me in really quick, and we waited in a room, Kiki went out to call a friend and the doctor came in, and said I didn't look too good. He asked some questions, and I told the history and about the chemo and radiation 2 years prior. Well, they took blood, which I must tell you is a feat. They have to use a butterfly, I have rolling and collapsing veins, but they got it. He told them stat, and it sure was, he was back in 20 minutes and said I was very sick and was being admitted. The fever was maybe 104.something and I was a bit shocky, and I heard the doctor giving all these orders to the nurse and zoom, I was admitted. Kiki called the neighbor to pick her and my car up and I was in there for 5 days. I had an infection throughout my body that had been growing for 2 years. Here's what they told me. The radiation I had was in the area like where you undies cover, had killed the lymph nodes and fluids were not draining and an infection started and went way too long and I was very lucky that fever shot up and I came in. Whew, that was a trip. Well, they released me and I had to take these strong antibiotics for a year, they said I may have to for life. After a year they said I was fine and stop taking them but if I ever get a temp over 101.7 to get to an emergency room and tell them about lymph nodes. So far so good, infection free.

All was fine then, worked my apt manager job and security job. Then on April 8th 1997, I thought I was a goner. I was driving to work which was about 2 miles up Main street, Corona, Calif and going the speed limit 40 and the light was red way down at the corner. There was no one in front of me, and there were a few cars in the right lane stopped for the light way up there, so foot off gas, I was going to coast up to the light which was far enough away. The light turned green, and I put foot on gas pedal and was continuing my drive up main street and the cars in the right lane were starting to go as I approached them, and BAM!!!!! That was it! The party was over, who turned out the lights, I know I am dead now, right? A car had pulled out of a gas station driveway in between 2 cars in the right lane to make a left turn.... but he couldn't see that I was in the left lane going 40 mph.. Well, next thing I knew is hearing someone talking "are you ok" "she looks bad hurt" "someone call 911?" it's gonna be okay I heard as someone had my hand. All I could do is think I CAN'T BREATHE!!!!! I CAN'T BREATHE!! the sirens were coming, someone said "they are coming, hang on, hang on, I am here with you" but I COULDN'T BREATHE!!! The fire dept came, the paramedics came, must have been 3 minutes, they have a station 1 block from the wreck. FINALLY I could speak a bit... I C A N ' T B R E A T H E!! Well, they got me on a backboard and got oxygen on my face, that by the way was killing me. Tried to put an IV in my arms, which they couldn't do. I thought I'd smack that guy before he was through. That paramedic was THE rudest person. I remember my arms were not attached to my body and they flopped down, slid down off me, and he said, "KEEP YOUR ARMS UP" PFFFTT!!!! What the hell, I can't even feel them I thought. They were doing the siren to the hospital, and they were checking pulse and blood pressure and all of a sudden they change plans, I have no clue why, my head is busting, I CAN'T BREATHE!!. Next thing I know I am being taken out of the ambulance and I glance over and people are standing around, it's Riverside General Hospital. HA! First time I ever got seen as soon as I got there. Okay we are inside the trauma unit, people are all around men and woman, must be doctors and nurses. It's so hazy, cloudy, "OHH" I say, "I CAN'T BREATHE!!" Someone fixes the oxygen. Now They are looking at me, my head is busted, my eye is puffy, my face is killing me, I can't breathe. It was really weird being in there, ya know? Well, they managed to get an IV in me, took blood, and then more of it, poking me, prodding, checked me all out, cut my brand new Lee jeans off me, they cut all my clothes off, even my socks, cut em. Well, the doctor is talking to me, did I lose consciousness? I wasn't to coherent and couldn't think, I just wanted to breathe dammit!. They brought the Xray machine to me and took Xrays to get a quick view of my bones. As soon as they got a hold of my daughter Boo, she came down, and my sister is a Hwy Patrol Officer, they got her somehow, I had mumbled call 911 and get Maggie, lol (They probably wondered how hard I did hit my head). My sister was there and Boo and when I saw them their faces scared me more than I was. I remember saying to them, I can't find my glasses. I need them. Well, they got me sent to get the MRI (body scan) and finally stable, a room. Everything is kind of a blur from there. They kept me over night, in the am asked if I wanted some breakfast, I said yes, and since I ate I could go home. I had a bad time at home. It's a good thing I had this comfy recliner, because I slept in that chair for 5 months. I couldn't lay down on a normal bed, so it was the chair, sitting up and sleeping that way. I got a follow up with the clinic to watch me. My first appointment I found out my left lung was partial collapsed, I broke a rib, I possibly had a concussion, I broke my left cheek bone, cut forehead, severely damaged my left kidney. Second follow up, I fractured my spleen but they didn't notice it when I was brought in, sooooo, they are going to let it heal and watch me. I couldn't do ANYTHING for a year just about. In the end they told me if I get severe pains in the spleen area, be sure to tell ER that I fractured my spleen in 4/97. Gee, that's great to know. What I learned from that car wreck? Always wear you seatbelt in the correct position. I am 5 ft short, and the seatbelt always bothered my neck, so how did I wear it? Under my arm, which caused allot of the injuries I had. To this day, when I inhale big or yawn I get a catch inside me on the left. I don't know what it is, the doctors said I was fine.