What I learned from: Having my appendix removed

Being open to receive and ask for help and receiving love and support from others. To many this may sound like duh! For me it was an eye opener

5 weeks ago I had a normal Wednesday: teach Zumba gold, gym workout, spa, sauna, lunch, working on my computer, dinner, smiles and great conversations at a women networking event with beautiful latinamerican entrepreneurs/friends and bed time.

The following day, I woke up at 4 am with a very painful stitch on the right lower side of my abdomen. I couldn’t even move. I looked for a Doctor to come to my house. There were none available. I managed to get a phone consult with a Doctor who suggested to “take a pain killer and see how you go”.

I taught my Zumba gold class with a bit of pain and lower impact than usual, and – thank god – my “goldies” advised me to go and see a Doctor. And so I did. The Doctor gently put his hand where the pain was, I screamed and he immediately sent me to the hospital suggesting that it was appendicitis.

Thanks to the Doctor's referral they let me in to the emergency room quite quickly. A myriad of nurses and Doctors passed by my bed. They would ask me the same questions over and over again, touched my belly (ouch!) and suggested it was appendicitis. All I could think was nah! I’m fine! I even ended up being interviewed for an emergency TV show from Channel 9. (Let me know if you see it)

After the ultrasound and seeing my huge - sausage like - appendix on the screen, the diagnosis was confirmed. It was appendicitis.

My first question: “When can I dance again” to which every single person laughed and told me it would be a matter of 4 to 6 weeks.

My first thought: Who will look after my participants and gigs? For the rest of the afternoon all I did was talk with my colleagues to find instructors and coordinators to cover all my work and talk to my customers to let them know.

My priority: others and make sure they are well looked after.

The last thing in my mind was my wellbeing and recovery or how I was going to do the simple things like, grocery shopping, cook, clean or walk. On top of that, here comes a new mini-lockdown in Melbourne that caught me with nothing in my fridge and travel restrictions of 5 Km again.

I had never been through something like this, in a foreign country without my family around.

The surgery went very well and two days later I was out of the hospital with nothing but a bit of discomfort and pain, lots of painkillers, a swollen belly and 3 minor cuts.

Thankfully, I am blessed with amazing people around me who offered their moral and practical support.

My friends were on a roster to pick me up from the hospital, go to doctor’s appointments, do the shopping, cook meals for me to have food for the first few weeks and spend time with me for the first few days; they helped me clean, change the bedsheets and, most importantly, they were here for me and supported me. My participants and managers sent me cards, flowers and lots of good wishes for my recovery. My colleagues took care of all my work so I could physically and mentally rest. My family was there through the whole process, in the distance, praying for me and sending me lots of love and support.

A few days after the surgery, I was in a guided meditation session. The first time I was alone, in silence. It was the first time I stopped and went deep down to process what happened to me. I remember crying and thinking about how grateful I am and how “blind” I’ve been for pushing energy out and not being open to receive.

The surgery was my body’s way to tell me to STOP!

For the first few weeks when I couldn’t bend or lift anything, I started asking for help. I realised that it is very uncomfortable for me to do it. It’s the weirdest feeling for me, as a person always willing to help, that I feel awkward asking for support. What I realised is that, just like me, people are more than willing to help what I have to do is just ask! It sounds very simple, but yet so difficult sometimes… I’m sure that most mothers know what I am talking about ;)

I also realised that I have put so much energy out that my tank is quite empty and I need to fill it in and keep it full, for my wellbeing and the wellbeing of all the beautiful people I support.

5 weeks later I am feeling much better, dancing again and seeking all the help and support I need, physically, mentally and emotionally; from my community and professionals in different areas. I am resting a little bit more. Learning to say yes to my self and establishing some bounderies. I am being extra grateful and showing more appreciation to all the amazing people who add value to my life in any way.

Notes to self:

• Ask for help
• Let people help me
• Take a break from doing things for others
• Reap the seeds of all the love and support I constantly give to others
• Feel vulnerable and be ok with it
• Listen to my body and do whatever it takes to heal
• Be open to receive love and support
• Take it easy
• Look after myself
• Not only my body needs a break, my mind too
• Re-think my priorities
• Let go! Trust my team
• Be grateful and appreciative

Catalina Gonzalez. 23.03.2021