Connect
Member Spotlights feature interviews with fellow Connect members. Learn more about members you’ve connected with and some you haven’t met yet. Nominate a member you think should share the spotlight.
JOHN: What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect? What motivates you to take part in the community?
@sueinmn: When I was diagnosed with mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and pseudomonas pneumonia in June 2018, I had never heard of MAC. I am kind of a research nerd, so I immediately hit the internet looking for information. A few weeks later, further research brought me to Connect. I read all day, and immediately felt like I found a place where I could get real, research- and science-based information from people like me, not mere opinion.
JOHN: What about Connect makes you feel comfortable to share and to be open with the community?
@sueinmn: I found caring, compassionate and seeking people who were ready to support one another and who understood what I was living with. I immediately felt welcome.
JOHN: What groups do you participate in?
@sueinmn: MAC & Bronchiectasis and to a small extent, Caregivers: Dementia.
JOHN: Tell us about a meaningful moment on Connect.
@sueinmn: I think Terri (@windwalker) reaching out to welcome me was when I felt this was the place I could get support and answers. I have a caring and supportive group of family and friends, but it didn’t quite feel like they “got it” when I talked about the continuous coughing and fatigue, or the fear of the unknown with MAC — but Terri did immediately.
JOHN: What surprised you the most about Connect?
@sueinmn: The wide variety of topics and conditions on Connect, and the amount of information.
JOHN: What energizes you, or how do you find balance in your life?
@sueinmn: People energize me — I am an extrovert, happiest when I am helping others, arranging outings or gatherings, or just hanging out. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the joy I find in hanging out with my husband, kids and my two small grandsons. My faith in a higher power and in the innate goodness in people helps me find balance.
JOHN: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.
@sueinmn: Hmm … that’s tough — I guess, strange as it sounds, learning new things. I am a university-trained volunteer master gardener, never happier than when I am helping someone solve a plant or garden problem. I am also relearning Spanish, a common language in both places where I live, so I can communicate with more people. A close second would be traveling, in the U.S. and elsewhere. We travel to new and favorite destinations for at least a month every year — we love discovering new places and revisiting old favorites.
JOHN: Do you have a favorite quote, life motto or personal mantra?
@sueinmn: My physical limitations do not define me; I will do as much as I can for as long as I can.
JOHN: What do you love about where you live or vacation?
@sueinmn: In my full-time home, I have lived in the same area all my life — I know the area, the people, the politics — and I am happy there. I have beautiful gardens that I will maintain as long as I am able. In my winter home, I live in a tiny home in an intentional community with people who have become my second family. We help and support each other in whatever we face, because all our families are far away. We explore our area and revel in the differences in culture and physical surroundings. For me it is an opportunity to learn something new just about every day.
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@sueinmn Thank you so much for letting us get to know you a little more! I love your Winter Texan home ☺
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5 ReactionsHi John, I still don't know how to add a comment. What do I need to do?
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3 ReactionsHola @sueinmn
Mucho gracias for taking the time to provide us with a glimpse into your reason and purposes for being involved with Mayo Connect. I think many of us could say the same things about our Connect experiences.
It was so interesting to learn about your gardening hobby, your travels as well as your desire to learn new things. You sound like such a well-rounded person.
Best wishes as you refresh your Spanish skills! (As you can see, I'm trying to remember my high school Spanish vocabulary)
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4 Reactions@smilie you just made a comment ??? Click the View & Reply button at the bottom of the email notification you receive for this post and you will see it's my reply to your comment/post.
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4 ReactionsIt is so nice to get to meet you! A new cyber buddy! Our paths may cross via the Caregivers group sometime. Hope so! Becky
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4 Reactions@sueinmn- Good morning. We have "spoken" in the lung health group. I mentor that and the lung cancer group. I don't know a lot about MAC. But I'm learning! You sound very active and that is so great to hear. My sister is also a Master Gardner and I really benefit greatly from her huge garden every year. I look forward to getting to know you better.
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5 ReactionsNice to get to know you, @sueinmn. I wish I enjoyed gardening more but there are bugs out there! 😏 My husband doesn't care for it either so we just do what we can.
It sounds like you have two ideal living situations. We are here in NH, year-round, and I think that's where we will stay despite the cold and snow.
Good luck with relearning Spanish. For some reasons foreign languages elude me. My daughter is a whiz in them, actually had a job as an interpreter for a while, but my son and I are both pretty dismal.
Sounds like you have done a lot of traveling. I would love to hear where you have gone.
JK
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4 Reactions@contentandwell Hi JK, I am far from a whiz at languages but spent my life in multilingual communities and found I can pick up basic conversationaal vocabulary pretty quickly. Now i am challenging myself to become literate-reading and writing as well as speaking. MUCH harder, but fun.
We have travelled widely in the US and Central Europe. For some reason this winter we have had a lot of conversations about New Mexico, so I'll tell you my favorite places to visit there.
Chaco Canyon is a fabulous remote national historic site that was occupied until about 1240ad, then suddenly vacated. Because it is remote, it has a collection of pueblo ruins unlike any other we've seen in the Southwest, and you are able to tour them up close, not from behind fences. The rangers are knowledgeable and love to share the history. The only drawback is 20 miles of poor gravel roads to get there, but so rewarding when you do. Chaco, as well as numerous other pueblos, both ruins and currently occupied settlements, are easily reached on day trips out of Gallup New Mexico. It's a fascinating way to learn the history of the first settlers in the area, and to see how Pueblo architecture is similar to construction of similar age around the world.
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5 Reactions@sueinmn Hello your ventures sounds interesting. I love to garden when I had my home. I put in a big garden and taught myself to can . Loved to get my can goods from fruit cellar in winter so I didn't have to go to store. Im sure your flower gardens are beautiful I tried with some . ONe place I love is the Grand Canyon . We may not run across each other as Im in different groups. Nice to have you aboard. Linda
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3 Reactions@sueinmn You may not be a whiz in languages but you far exceed me. We have gone to France once and to Italy two times and I really am bad. I did have French in school but it was pretty much forgotten. My husband didn't think of himself as knowing Italian despite the fact that his father was from Italy and his parents spoke Italian to each other. They always spoke English to my husband and his brother. We got to Italy though and it all came back to him in a few days and he was speaking fluently with people there. Despite the fact that my daughter and I are very much alike, that's definitely a talent she got from him.
Chaco Canyon sounds fascinating. I think I would love that but it would not be something my husband would enjoy. Our traveling days are winding down now too. Twenty miles over gravel roads is nothing, we have gone that far to get to wineries, and when we were in Hawaii in 2017 we did the Road to Hana which was a two hour drive over roads that were not gravel but narrow and curvy.
If your US travels bring you to New England, we are in southern NH so come and visit. 🙂
JK
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