Hello there! I joined ARC a few weeks ago and have been lurking around the site, but haven't introduced myself yet. My name's Pamela. I'm new to the saltwater hobby, but I've had freshwater tanks, off and on, all of my adult life (currently have 2). Always wanted to try saltwater, but finances, time, and obligations didn't permit it.
Growing up dirt-poor in the Appalachian mountains of Eastern Kentucky, I was fascinated with the ocean, and spent countless hours reading and daydreaming about the life in the Deep Blue Wonder. Coral reefs, specifically. I couldn't wait for the chance to go scuba diving and see it, experience it for myself in real life. Circumstances, family, and life in general took me in a different direction, but I never lost my desire to see the reef up close. I told myself, "When the kids are all grown and out of the house, I'll do it. I have time."
In March of 2020, when my youngest was a junior in highschool, I got the shocking stage 4 diagnosis. Inoperable, no possibility of "cure" or "remission" in my future. Six months later, in October, I suffered a triple whammy of pneumonia, sepsis, and massive renal failure. The only reason I'm telling you this is because the very procedure that saved my life also took away any possibility of seeing a coral reef up close. I can't be submerged in water, period. No bubble baths, hot tubs, swimming... certainly no diving.
I've spent the last few years doing what I had to, "stabilizing my parameters", so to speak lol. Diagnosis hasn't changed, but I'm stable, and grateful for every moment. I don't take anything for granted, or assume "I can do it tomorrow". I can still see a coral reef up close, I just have to make it myself. Even better, I get to keep it! This is something I've always wanted to do, so I'm going to dive into it and enjoy the process. And now that I've introduced myself, be prepared for a thousand questions lol. Thanks for reading this. Stay safe and stay blessed.
Growing up dirt-poor in the Appalachian mountains of Eastern Kentucky, I was fascinated with the ocean, and spent countless hours reading and daydreaming about the life in the Deep Blue Wonder. Coral reefs, specifically. I couldn't wait for the chance to go scuba diving and see it, experience it for myself in real life. Circumstances, family, and life in general took me in a different direction, but I never lost my desire to see the reef up close. I told myself, "When the kids are all grown and out of the house, I'll do it. I have time."
In March of 2020, when my youngest was a junior in highschool, I got the shocking stage 4 diagnosis. Inoperable, no possibility of "cure" or "remission" in my future. Six months later, in October, I suffered a triple whammy of pneumonia, sepsis, and massive renal failure. The only reason I'm telling you this is because the very procedure that saved my life also took away any possibility of seeing a coral reef up close. I can't be submerged in water, period. No bubble baths, hot tubs, swimming... certainly no diving.
I've spent the last few years doing what I had to, "stabilizing my parameters", so to speak lol. Diagnosis hasn't changed, but I'm stable, and grateful for every moment. I don't take anything for granted, or assume "I can do it tomorrow". I can still see a coral reef up close, I just have to make it myself. Even better, I get to keep it! This is something I've always wanted to do, so I'm going to dive into it and enjoy the process. And now that I've introduced myself, be prepared for a thousand questions lol. Thanks for reading this. Stay safe and stay blessed.
