"Let Your Breath Find You": Meet @tsc

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Jan 7, 2022 | John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Comments (24)

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: How did you find Mayo Clinic Connect? What motivates you to take part in the community?

@tsc: After I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA), I searched for information about the diseases on the internet. I found a discussion from Mayo Clinic Connect, took a deeper look, and decided to join. It was fitting because Dr. Horton of the Mayo Clinic did groundbreaking work on Giant Cell Arteritis in the 1930s.

JOHN: What about Mayo Clinic Connect makes you feel comfortable to share and to be open with the community?

@tsc: We, the members, share similar diseases, symptoms and circumstances that are often new to us and that we struggle through. At times, it can be overwhelming. Talking to friends is an option, but there's a limit to how much we can share with those in dissimilar circumstances. Members with experience offer a diverse range of insights, share their stories, and make suggestions. As a rule, they are respectful and helpful.

JOHN: What groups do you participate in?

@tsc: I mostly take part in Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), Bones, Joints & Muscles, and Caregivers: Dementia groups.

JOHN: Tell us about a meaningful moment on Mayo Clinic Connect.

@tsc: I enjoy hearing the perspective of @larryh123 in the Caregivers: Dementia group. He lives with Lewy body dementia and explains what he experiences so well. He gives me the opportunity to understand things from his perspective. 

I am struck by the strength of so many members who persevere, seek answers and wellness in the face of so much adversity.

JOHN: What surprised you the most about Mayo Clinic Connect?

@tsc: Members care and stay civil. The volunteer mentors are a welcome presence, always there to help.

JOHN: What energizes you? How do you find balance in your life?

@tsc: I recently felt great when I was able to clean the house and have a guest over for dinner. For balance, I do Sara Meeks' spinal decompression exercise every night. She is a physical therapist who specializes in osteoporosis. It consists of lying on a flat surface, knees bent, palms up and arms at a 45 degree angle. "Let your breath find you," no distractions. The recommended time is 5 to 15 minutes.

JOHN: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.

@tsc: I enjoy preserving historical records. I volunteer in the archives of a local museum that tells the story of our island. The work of describing photos in a database is interesting because I get to step back in time and see what was going on here in the 1960s. I also did some textile restoration on a vintage Hawaiian quilt for a new permanent exhibit. The people who work at the museum are super. 

JOHN: Do you have a favorite quote, life motto or personal mantra?

@tsc: After my husband and I were married, my father said, "Be kind to each other." Think of the impact on society if more of us practiced kindness in everything from our day-to-day interactions with others to our activities and decisions on a larger scale.

JOHN: What do you appreciate the most in your friends?

@tsc: Some good friends have always been there for me. A couple of years before PMR and GCA, I had open heart surgery. Friends drove me to and from the airport, shopped or took me shopping, and checked in regularly. In May, one of those same friends accompanied me on a flight to another island for my temporal artery biopsy, with less than one day's notice! 

JOHN: Puppies or Kittens?

@tsc: I don't have a pet, but there is a neighborhood dog, Lucy, who lives under a house. The occupants take no responsibility for her and she depends upon the kindness of strangers for food. She is extremely wary. I've been feeding her on and off for a couple of years, depending upon her willingness to interact with me. The rescue organizations have tried to catch her many times, but she's just too fast.

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