06/25/2026
I wanted to share these pictures for our new MAR&K friends about the rare brain disease called MoyaMoya I was diagnosed with. These talk about the symptoms I have, where the disease is, and what the disease does to the affected areas.
It's definitely not a fun disease to live with. I have to mindful of it 24/7. I take Cayenne Pepper and drink Propel waters every day as preventative. It doesn't stop the symptoms 100% but I just learn to live with them. The headaches, cognitive changes, seizures, and facial sensations. I have prescription meds for them but it makes me feel extremely fatigued.
I had a couple brain procedures where they poked around in my brain. But I had a stroke afterwards that left me hospitalized. So I didn't get the intensive bypass surgery I needed. It was too risky for me to have. Instead I was given a short life expectancy. I'll never forget taking my son to that Neuro science surgeon appointment and how he sank to the floor hearing that news.
Those of you that know me though, I didn't let that outcome slow me down or hold me back. I'm too stubborn to quit!
It seemed the more I didn't quit and let my stubbornness help me continue to being a single farmHER, the better I got!
I did my physical therapy on the farm. I went from using a walker to go to the coop and barn to carrying buckets of water in no time.
I love what I do and this farm life is my passion. I love raising livestock! I love the small simple things of farm living. I love being outdoors with my animals then inside the house. It's therapy to me!
My dream was to get to the point of being a huge blessing to my community. I wanted to raise meats and make it available at donation pricing. To make it easy for all to have healthy meats. Have a large garden to share. Even be a place where people can raise their own cow or garden here because they can't in the city. But I ended up turning more into a rescue. I get asked a lot to take in animals anywhere from roosters to cows. Especially livestock guardian dogs! I'm just not set up financially to do that. Though I'd absolutely love to make that happen! My heart is definitely there for it!
But things do seem to get harder for me cognitive wise. Saying the wrong words. Saying things that make no sense because my sentences don't come out properly. Saying things before my brain processes what to say first. I try to compare the cognitive changes to that of developing early dementia. Its a gut punch to realize what you have to deal with at 46 instead of 86!
I deal with a lot of clients. Talk to a lot of people every day, about all things farming. Selling eggs, chicks, calves, and puppies. I don't know if any of you guys have noticed the MoyaMoya progression affecting me cognitive wise. I know some of you will point out errors or mistakes in my posts so I can fix then right away. Which I appreciate tremendously!
My biggest question to you guys is, do you see enough cognitive changes that you think it's affecting the MAR&K buisness? Am I still swinging through unnoticed of the changes? Which is what I'm hoping for!
I want you guys to be honest with me!
Let me know if there's a time I should quit!
I'd never want you guys to be unsatisfied with MAR&K services due to my MoyaMoya symptoms!
I'd appreciate all your prayers to keep going and to keep pushing through all the MoyaMoya obstacles! The next step is the MoyaMoya surgery and that will help a ton too! 🙏
