To my fellow artists, readers, friends and family, you may have noticed that I have been slowly decreasing my publications in magazines and my connections in WordPress. So here is a brief explanation of why. You probably know that for many years I have been suffering from neck and back pain from an old injury. Unfortunately, this has gotten worse and it’s exacerbated by the lack of adequate health care we’ve been able to receive since we moved – in particular, I have yet to find a neurologist that I can trust (I recently found a doctor in the NC Triad area that I can see soon that specializes in my kind of pain – I’m hopeful I can soon find some relief going forward). Because of this, it’s been very difficult to do anything online, which also seems to make it worse, and has even affected my ability to sleep.
I know that people don’t necessarily like to hear about health problems that people have, but they are a fact of life and I need to make sure that I’m taking care of myself. I have put much of myself out there, not just online but with my book, for you all to see, so you probably already are familiar with the struggles that I’ve had in my life. And, as many of you already know, I also like to share personal experiences and pray with and for those who need it, not just in my online life, because it might be something that people can relate with and help others.
My timeframe to get back online is not soon as I need some time to heal. I need to put my health first because that is where it should be and living with chronic pain with no long-term relief in sight must be corrected. I have great faith and God gives me Grace in more ways than one, including helping my neck to get better many times for up to a year at a time, and that is my prayer again and to do it without drugs or surgery. I have worked hard to become the woman and writer that I am today and I have many of you and your support to thank for that. So hence this post.
On a more positive note, I wanted to express my gratitude to Masticadores, in particular Hotel and Chewers, for posting pieces that were submitted and scheduled more than a month ago, knowing that I would soon be going offline until my medical condition improved. I especially wanted to thank everyone who has continued to read my work even though I have not been able to visit many sites in the past five weeks.
Please know that pieces of my tender heart are held by you, and that, if it is meant to be when I return, I look forward to going back to my roots in WordPress where my words flowed freely and I published some of my best work and spent time with so many of the friends I have missed in the past couple of years. Written with sadness, love, appreciation and, always, a hopeful spirit.
Love you all, Joni ❤️
Your health must come first, my friend. I think most folks will understand and will cheer for you as you tackle your health problems. Good healthcare can be difficult to find (and prohibitively expensive, too, which is a disgrace in a country as wealthy as ours). I’m glad to know you’ve found a neurologist who may be able to help with your ailments. Neck and back issues are horrendously painful. Prayers to you for your healing, Joni.
Please take your time–no need to rush to return. Your friends here on WP will always be here for you. You’re not just a remarkably talented writer, you also represent the best of WP and of humanity. Your kindness and support for all of us here on WP is a beautiful thing, and we all owe you a debt of gratitude for your graciousness and friendship. So, no worries, my friend. We’ll be here when you decide you’re ready to return, and we’ll all look forward to a healed, rejuvenated and re-energized Joni Caggiano blessing us with profoundly lovely writing.
Get well, soon, okay? All the best from sunny Colorado. 😊🌸
Well, these responses are making me cry, and yours is no exception. Your words are just so kind and they mean so much Mike. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers so much. Yes, I am not used to being in pain for going on five weeks, not since my original surgery – (and I don’t ever want another one either), and that one was a wonderful surgeon in Seattle who improved my pain by at least 85%. I don’t want drugs either although there is nothing wrong with someone who needs to be on pain meds if followed by a doctor. I just want a procedure that has helped me before. I trust this hospital in the Triad. We will be doing a lot of traveling likely back and forth so I just am not going to be around either.
Your words in the second paragraph, well – all I know to say is that you have touched my heart deeply and that they mean the world to me. I love the graciousness in your heart and your poetry – well, let’s just say – you are amazing, my friend. Your piece on Gobblers today I almost missed it. So I am just going to say you will not be seeing me or hearing from me anytime soon, but when I return, I will be feeling so much better, and hopefully, I will be able to spend lots of time with my WordPress family, which I have missed so much. Thank you, Mike, for your friendship, your love, and your kindness. It was such a blessing for me to meet such a kindred spirit online, as we have many shared experiences in our youth. ❤️
I sure hope things get better for you, Joni, and think they will, that the Lord has you on his mind. 💖 🙏
Thank you, Timothy, I believe he does, too. Thank you for your reassuring words, dear friend. Have a blessed rest of your week. You take care of yourself too my friend. Love and hugs, Joni
Sorry to hear about your health issues, but they eventually happen to everyone. Take the time to get yourself healed. I always enjoy your works, and hopefully, you can get back to doing them normally again. You have been a great woman,.
Oh, John, your message made me cry, it is an emotional day for me. However, I have found help in another State and I am hoping to be blessed and get back to my old self again. You have been a friend since 2021, I think when I first got started, and a good friend. I hope that God will bless me with healing and that I can get back to WordPress and just enjoy reading and writing again with my friends here on WordPress meaning that, I will always be grateful for everything that everyone in the Publishing world have done for me as well. Getting my book out was something I truly wanted to do but I have done that and I need to get my health back and I have missed so many of my friends. May God take good care of you dear friend and you take care of yourself as well. I send my love, and appreciation for all you have done for me, all your support and kindness. You will be missed, but I hope to see you again sooner than later. Love you John ❤️ and thank you, truly.
Oh, you are very graciously welcome.
❤️🥰🌹
Praying for you, Joni. Taking care of you is important. We will be here.🙏🏻❤️
Thank you, Melissa, and your prayers are just so very appreciated. I know that the power of prayer works and know that anything is possible if in God’s Will. Also, thank you for saying you will be here, that means so much. May your journey continue to be blessed and may you be able to enjoy every part of it and in good health. Lots of love, Joni 🥰
Dear Joni,
I know this has been a struggle for you. But you are doing what’s best for you. That’s what you must do for now. Take care of yourself and find healing. Meanwhile, I continue to pray for you, believing against all odds that you will be healed, for I know firsthand that miracles are real.
I believe we can do this, claim your healing without painful, risky surgery. It may take a while – or it may come sooner that we could have imagined. If you are able to call me, I will pray with you. If not, I’ll pray on your behalf anyway. Because I love you, dear friend, and don’t want you to continue suffering.
Much love and prayer.
Debra, thank you so much for the kind and beautiful comment. It means the world to me. I, too, have had several life-saving miracles when I was a little girl and also once as a young woman when I was prescribed a very strong blood pressure medication by a new physician, and neither the fire department nor the paramedics could get a blood pressure or pulse. I was floating above my body feeling the best I had ever felt and so I have often felt at a strong advantage with my strong faith because I have seen such things during my lifetime. However, I do plan on trying to call. We have two different appointments back in the triad in the next two weeks but I will call you. Thank you for your offer to pray as I am always grateful for prayer and I don’t want a second surgery or drugs, that is not what I want but there is a procedure that has helped in the past. It is painful and they do it while you are awake, I am praying that they will do this again because it has offered long-term relief for me in the past. Thank you for your kindness Debra and I will try and talk to you before we leave but I don’t want to promise anything either because we have to rent a car as well before we leave. Our little smart car is too hard for my neck any more it takes the bumps to easily. Much love, Joni ❤️
Oh Joni.. I wish you a speedy recovery. I absolutely understand that you need to place your health first. You’ll be back soon. You are in my thoughts and prayers. 🙏🤗
Thank you, Nigel, I am placing myself in God’s hands as my quality of health has just gotten where I can not enjoy my life the way I want to, even though I am older than I look, I have a youthful heart, soul and Scott and I have dreams too. Your prayers and thoughts are heartwarming and a much-needed gift, my friend. So thank you, and we will, of course, not lose touch. On good days I will read many of my WordPress friends that I have missed so much. However, I can’t promise anything right now. We both love you, Nigel and appreciate your friendship. please send your love to your family from both of us when you finally get to visit soon. Many blessings, Joni and Scott – you are never far from our hearts and prayers either Nigel.
Soul sister, I have been praying for you & your family, & I promise to pray for long term relief so you have quality of life. Your decisions have my full support, always. I love you dearly & am thankful you found a place to help you achieve freedom from pain that you can’t endure any longer. Know you’re in my daily prayers & my heart. I love you
Dear soul sister, you have been a rock since the beginning of my journey, a shoulder to cry on, and one to rejoice with as well. How I wish we were closer. Seattle is just too far away. Thank you so much for all your kind words, dear friend, and know that there is no way that I can possibly put into words what our decades of friendship have meant to me and how you have blessed my life in ways you may never understand. I love you, and we will talk soon. Thank you for always being there for me. ❤️🥰😘
Joni!!!! I’m so sorry, please keep us posted on every step of you healing journey. Please take care of you and know that you have a whole gang of writers tht are rooting for you. Love you much!
Thank you so much, Belladonna, and believe me, that means more than you know. I am praying this female neurologist will be able to do a procedure that just involves needles and the burning of the nerves close to the spine. Thank you for your kindness, Belladonna. I still hope that we get to see your son play football, and hopefully, we will be blessed with that visit. I haven’t forgotten. Our little grandchildren play football. We could all go with a warm blanket and a thermos of cocoa. I am still hopeful we will get to meet this fall as we have already prepared ourselves that as much as we like it here, if we can not get healthcare, we are going to have to move closer to a big city. We have learned a lot from this move. Sending love to you and your family. Love you, sweetie!
Praying for you!!!! Meeting up with you and your family would be a blessing. Until then take care of you. Love you too
Thank you sweetie, your prayers are a blessing, and I believe that through people’s prayers, I will get better and my desire to meet you, family, and watch your son play football would be a blessing for us as well. Love you back and you take care of yourself too. Also, I know it is hard when you child leaves for college but just remember they always come back and he will too. So when and if you are feeling lonely remember, if we love and care for our children, they don’t forget us and we remain an important part of their lives and those that they love. Be that courageous and beautiful woman who influences others to take care of themselves because everyone can use that extra loving push. ❤️🙏
Joni, sending you hugs, and healing vibes. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Your health comes first, and we’ll be here when you return. Take all the time you need to focus on your well-being.
Oh, thank you so much, Ritish. I truly appreciate this kind and gracious comment. Also, thank you for saying that you and the community will be here when I get back. This is truly thoughtful. I feel blessed at how understanding people have been. Many blessings to you and all those you love. Sending hugs right back to you.
Praying for healing for you Joni! 🙏💚
Dear Cassa, I so appreciate everyone’s prayers. Since we have moved, we have not been able to get in to see any specialists. It is very frustrating. Traveling is also hard on my neck. We just returned from a trip to NC for my husband’s doctor, a specialist we have not been able to get in a year and three months. Next week, I finally have an appointment for my neck. It is in NC and it did not take long to get into a highly-rated neurologist. I am so grateful. I have had some improvement and I truly believe it is because of prayers so I can not thank you enough dear friend. I hope you are well and that soon I, too, will be able to return, but I am not rushing anything. Sending you my love, hugs, true appreciation, and gratitude for your kind friendship. Love you, Joni
I love you Joni, please take care of your health, we will be praying for you!❤️🩹
You are such a kind soul, Tiffany. Your sweet message touched my heart, and your prayers are so appreciated. We have been friends for so long. I see a highly-rated Neurologist in NC next week, and I feel very blessed. My doctor here said he would not see me until November, even though I have been basically in bed for a month. So I will take care of myself, my friend, and I want you to know, Tiffany, that your friendship since 2021, or at least the beginning of 2022, has meant so much to me. You are a talented and beautiful person inside and out. Much love and blessings to you and yours as well.
Dear Joni —
This is distressing news for all of us who care about you. You have your priorities straight. Though you will be greatly missed while offline, your health must, of course, take precedence. I, too, live in a medical desert so can well understand the difficulties you’ve faced in obtaining adequate healthcare.
I have treasured your friendship. Your work is a gift to the world. But you must conserve your resources, and focus on healing. Please, know that you will remain in my prayers.
Much love,
A.
Dearest Anna, how heartfelt and gracious of you to respond and to write such a loving comment. You have been such a treasured friend for so long, and I was just starting to get into catching up by reading your post, which was almost like a diary but so enjoyable to read. I was learning so much about you, my dear friend. I can not believe how difficult it has been to get care, and I am so excited to be going to a neurologist in NC this Thursday. As you know, we have just moved to VA, and we love our home. the view is extraordinary. We are already looking for another home closer to the Triad in NC now. We have made three trips back to NC for health care in the last couple of months, and I have to stay the night as driving is too hard on my neck. I know you understand a lot of what I am talking about. I appreciate your friendship and you so much. I hope to be returning, but for now, my goal is to focus, as you said, on the right goals. Love you A
Joni,
I hope you find the medical attention you need, and relief from your pain comes soon.
I send you my best and sincerest wishes,
Resa
❦❦❦
Dearest talented and earth-loving Resa, I am such a fan of both your and Holly’s posts. Your fashion sense and creativity done with recycled material is amazing, what a keen and admirable gift you have. Thank you so much for your kindness. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, and your words mean so much. I hope life is great and that nature is smiling on you – your talent and artful pieces can not help but make me smile in amazement at how you create such beauty from all sorts of discarded or unused materials. Stunning!
Take good care of yourself, Joni! Sitting at the computer has exacerbated my back and neck problems, too, so I have been trying to cut back, too. I hope you get the care you need. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hugs & Kisses, Dawn
I am sorry that you, too, have to deal with these kinds of problems. I have had to make decisions that have not been easy, but I believe that God wants us to take care of our bodies, and so that is what I am doing. I have found a team of neurologists who are working with me back in NC, and although I am not having surgery, they are pretty invasive procedures. Two Cervical Facet Injections in multiple areas, and then an RFA and potentially an Occipital Nerve Block. I will pray for you as well, my friend, and hope that with rest your pain will fade. Love, hugs and kisses, Joni 🙏
Joni, thank you for sharing this post with us. I am thinking of you and praying for you. I totally agree with you that health is important and need your undivided attention. I still struggle from my serious injuries occurred in 2009 including the needed for back surgery in 2015. My husband had neck surgery two days ago to fuse four discs. Again, we understand and praying for you.
Dearest Tangie, I am so sorry to hear that you are still dealing with the results of your injury in 2009. We are all dealing with something, and some handle chronic pain better than others. It can be a lifelong process which is not fun. I am very sorry to hear about your husband’s neck, Tangie, I truly will pray for him and already have – that his recovery will be one that will make his pain so much better and that it will be a blessing in the long run. My only fusion surgery gave me 85 percent relief, but that was so many years ago. I was blessed to have a career and waited ten years even before my surgery because I was young when I had my water skiing accident. I will pray for you both. Thank you for your prayers as well. Bless you both, my friend, and may God be with you both, lifting you up and providing healing. Love and hugs and many blessings for your family. Joni ❤️🙏
Thank you, ….and praying for your relief. Blessings, hugs, love and prayers to/for you.
Dearest Tangie, please do give me an update on your husband. I pray he is getting better. Sending you lots of love and prayers for both of you.
oh NO, Joni! I’m so terrrbly sorry to hear this. I know that you have suffered with this and it’s vital you take good care of yourself. Look into some craniosacral therapy as it is a wonderful modality that addresses many root issues that can be impinging nerves bones that may be compressing. I’ll be sending you blessings of love and healing as you take your time adn heal. All my prayers and good energy, love adn hugs will go in the prayer box daily.. xoxoxoxox💗💗💗
Cindy, I am so sorry that I have missed your wonderfully supportive and kind comments. I would love to find someone who could do craniosacral therapy – you are an amazing woman with so many skilled methods of treatment. I so appreciate your support, dear friend. It really does mean a lot. I have a team of doctors working with me in Winston-Salem. We are likely going to put our dream retirement home on the market after 1.5 years of living there to move to Winston-Salem, where I have found a team of doctors. We are staying here for a month so that I can get treatment for that, along with what is thought to be a possible reoccurrence of a Pheochromocytoma, which I had when I was young. I was living in Seattle then and had my adrenal gland removed at that time. I can use all your wonderful prayers and positive energy dear Cindy. Big hugs to you and your beautiful family always, along with your furry critters. Love you, Joni
Thinking of you today Joni.. <3 Trâm.
I am so sorry I missed this Trâm. I have not been online much, but what an extremely kind message. We are still out of State receiving healthcare. Your thoughts are so gratefully appreciated, sending you my love, gratitude, and admiration. Love Joni
I understand, take care., ❤
Thank you, Tram. 🌹