7 years ago today I went from feeling off, to feeling ill, to the doc-in-a-box, to the ER with necrotizing fasciitis. Aka a flesh eating bacteria. Aka "Stan". I spent 2 weeks in the hospital, had 3 rather invasive surgeries, and spent 4+ weeks at home with a would vac and IV antibiotics. I could have died, the ER surgeon said if I'd waited another day, I'd have had an 20% chance of surviving. As it is, I have a beaut of a scar that it would be exceeding rude to show anyone randomly (the infection was in my groin). Luckily I wasn't body shy before this, because I was dropping my pants for a whole lot of people who _did_ want to see. Seems while Stan is not uncommon, it's uncommon enough that every doctor I saw (and there were a bunch) had an intern or 3 in tow, and would ask if I minded being a show and tell subject? And you know me, I like to help educate people.

So yeah, 7 years. Some days it seems like only yesterday. Other times it feels like it happened to someone else. So yeah. Btw, if you find an odd swelling on your body, and at the same time feel like you're coming down with the flu, get your ass to a doctor. It's a crappy time of recovery, but it beats being dead.