05/28/2026
PSA & KATE’S FAVES FOR BEACH READS: If you haven’t read (or finished!) these 2 books by Agawam Author Judith Cosby yet, get on it! Because #3 is on its way! We are hoping it hits early fall, stay tuned.
In the meantime, we are asking prayers for our friend, Judy, as she recovers from a big medical scare. She has granted permission to share her experience with all of you, as a PSA:
“Hi everyone. I wanted to share something deeply personal with you all today, not for sympathy, but because I hope it may help someone else someday.
Please, be your own advocate when it comes to your health.
Yes, it is incredibly important to have people in your corner; family, friends, loved ones who fight beside you and support you when you are struggling. I am blessed to have had that. But at the end of the day, you also need to be willing to use your own voice, trust your instincts, and push when you know something is not right.
As many of you know, I have not been well since early March. I did have a medical condition that caused complications, along with a reaction to medication that made everyday life extremely difficult. During this time, I saw two different doctors. Both listened to my symptoms, but neither looked beyond their own specialty to see the bigger picture.
This is not about blame. Medicine is complicated, and doctors are human. But this experience taught me an important lesson: sometimes you have to keep pushing until someone truly listens.
Early last week, I reached a point where I genuinely felt like my body was failing me. That is the only way I can describe it. The shortness of breath, exhaustion, rapid heart rate, and overwhelming fatigue became so severe that I finally asked Craig to take me to the hospital — and anyone who knows me knows how much I hate hospitals.
That decision may have saved my life.
When I arrived, my initial test results appeared mostly stable, despite my symptoms of tachycardia, shortness of breath, and severe fatigue. A young ER doctor looked at me and said something I will never forget:
“I don’t want to release you yet because I feel we are missing something.”
Thank God he trusted his instincts.
Even after my chest X-ray came back clear, he did not stop there. He and his nurse continued digging deeper, ordering additional bloodwork and a CT scan. Those tests revealed a large blood clot in the lower right lung...a pulmonary embolism.
I was admitted immediately and started treatment.
The doctor later told me, “Thank God you came in when you did, because if you had waited much longer, the outcome may not have been good.”
Those words shook me.
Craig fought for me. My daughters fought for me. But ultimately, I had to reach the point where I stopped doubting myself and admitted just how desperate and unwell I truly felt.
So please hear me when I say this:
Do not ignore your body.
Do not minimize your symptoms.
Do not assume that “normal” initial tests mean everything is okay.
And do not be afraid to ask questions, seek another opinion, or push for further answers when something in your heart tells you otherwise.
You know your body better than anyone else.
I still have a long road ahead of me, but I am healing, taking things one day at a time, and feeling incredibly grateful — grateful for my family, grateful for the care I finally received, and especially grateful for one young doctor who refused to dismiss me or make me feel like I was exaggerating my symptoms.
Please take care of yourselves. Your health is not something to take for granted.
Be your own advocate.
Fight for yourself.
Your life may depend on it.”
