Author: joselynmiller

I am a survivor of two extremely rare diseases, thanks to over 100 blood transfusions and ultimately, a bone marrow transplant. My blog, joselynsbrawl.com, chronicles my adventures through medical offices, operating rooms, clinics, transfusion centers, hospital transplant floors, victory celebrations, and finally my bucket list items – all with a humorous and sometimes profane twist. My goal is to inspire others not to give up on life or anything else, and to understand that it’s actually possible to enjoy any experience, even battling a life-threatening illness (or two).

YOLT

January 11, 2015.Reading time 14 minutes.

Wow! I feel like a big loser poopy head for not writing my 60th post sooner. I strongly dislike excuses, so I won’t give you one. I’ll give you 3. It’s exceedingly difficult to write when you’re: 1. 90 feet underwater 2: flying towards earth at 120 mph and 3: clinging to an ice wall […]

A Day in the Life (on the bone marrow transplant floor)

October 14, 2014.Reading time 13 minutes.

While getting this blog organized to be published, I realized I had written virtually nothing about my hospital adventures. I spent 90 days and nights at City of Hope’s Helford Hospital, but I never really felt up to writing while I was there, and even if I did – and I know this sounds like a […]

From Hair to There

August 19, 2014.Reading time 5 minutes.

Queue Rod Serling: You are about to enter another dimension. A dimension not only of time and space, but of hair. A journey into a wondrous land of strands. You’ve just crossed over into… the Baldilocks Zone. My apologies to those of you born after about 1970, for you are now wondering where the f you can […]

Transitioning Back to “Normal”

July 10, 2014.Reading time 8 minutes.

I’m feeling more and more like my prick (pre + sick) self lately, and my last visit to City of Hope’s Main Lab waiting room confirmed it. Putting my new vision to use, I surveyed my fellow patients, all there for AFBT – Another F-ing Blood Test, and I realized I was the ONLY one without […]

On Second Thought

May 29, 2014.Reading time 7 minutes.

SECOND CHANCE I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how lucky and blessed I am to have a second chance at life. A do-over. If I had been born a few decades earlier (before bone marrow transplants), I wouldn’t have seen my 50th birthday. If my brother, Leason, had not been a match, I may […]

Yo Ho

May 5, 2014.Reading time 8 minutes.

Ahoy, me hearties! Fer all ye land lubbers’ information, I went under t’ cat o’ nine tails n’ got me poxed port side eye fixed. Me cap’n, Dr. K, n’ her crew did a great job n’ now aft me surgery, me eye can clearly see sails on t’ horizon. Arrrr. Shiver me timbers ~ blimey! […]

Rocks, Brooms, Lashes, Special Ointment and Egyptian Kings

April 9, 2014.Reading time 6 minutes.

I turned the big Five Won the other day, and to celebrate, I pulled a reverse surprise party on some friends and family 🙂 Todd and I met them in a predetermined spot, and had them wear warm, comfortable clothing. We let them know when we’d be done. We figured that’s all they needed to know. So […]

Shoulda Seen the Other Chick

March 21, 2014.Reading time 4 minutes.

The St. Paddy’s Rumble (Version 1) And she’s like, “Yo, bitch…” And I’m like, “I beg your pardon, but I don’t appreciate language like that.” (I know, you’re calling bs) And she’s like, “You have 16 items in your cart and this is an express check out. 15 items or less.” And I’m like, “And […]

Bob Costas, Meye Сomяade

February 16, 2014.Reading time 5 minutes.

That’s яight, Bob’s eyes aяe f-ed up, just like mine, the infection is tяending on Twitteя and Vine. The Olympic anchoя desk went up in flames, when Bob could no longeя host the Sochi Games. What was the cause? Foul TV make-up oя яouge? Or peяhaps he ate sh*t while attempting the luge? Maybe the […]

The Eyes Have It

January 17, 2014.Reading time 9 minutes.

Have you ever tried to see through Vaseline? I have 🙂 My eyes have been taken hostage by Graft vs. Host Disease and in addition to that, TDVPHCCIBP – The Dreaded ‘Vitamin P’ (Prednisone) Has Caused Cataracts In Both Peepers. My newest team member, Dr. S3 diagnosed me with multiple cataracts and told me that I […]