“Oh Hey! It’s Alyssa” is a biweekly webcomic by Alyssa!
Oh, Hey! It’s Alyssa #32: Surviving
A. Andrews
A. is a totally complete incomplete paraplegic and thirty-something hanky-in-the-pocket cartoonist weirdo!
A. has written 69 articles for us.
THANK YOU.
Wow this comic really resonated with me. I feel like I missed out on all of the “high school experiences” because I was too busy being sick.
Also you would think that hospital clergy would get the message the first three times you say no thank you.
I had a nurse pray over me once, despite my objections.
Love this. I spent a year and a half in my mid 20s – when everyone else was dating, saving, and traveling the world, – commuting back and forth across the country to take care of my dad. I don’t regret a second of it, as I was able to spend time with my dad before losing him, but I feel extremely behind. Like “okay guys I can have fun now!” but everyone else is ready to settle down and stay home… and buy homes?! And commuting from coast to coast for almost two years really drained my bank account.
Needed to hear this today; thanks, Alyssa. Feeling really behind lately thanks to everything that comes with CP and this made me take a deep breath and re-center. ❤️
Last time I was in the hospital I worked there. My chaplains were both women, one queer, and totally awesome. They changed the way I look at chaplaincy.
It’s taken me about six years to get my two year degree too. I struggled so hard getting back to work, only to have co-workers complain and criticize, while I eventually got fired. I didn’t feel like I connected to anything or anyone anymore. It was painful and rough just getting through half a day. I’m still constantly affected by feelings of failure and inadequacy because of my age and so-called “lack of success” in American society.
If you ever solve these feelings, let me know how?
Mid 30’s. Am dying (they think I have about 18 months, give or take?).
Sick lady fist bump.
Thank you for reminding me that not every worthwhile thing is going to feel good. That the victory is in trying. That the losses, large and small, both physically and legally/medically, don’t define me. That I am not gone yet.
I look forward to your work so much, Alyssa. Thank you.
for sure fist bumps. i’m so glad you are here. thanks so much for reading, friend. xoxo.
“It can be exhausting to play catch up with a world that’s gone on without you.” Jeez, yes, thank you.
You have the absolute best timing. I wanna carry this with me always.
do it! xoxo
Awesome comic as always Alyssa.
Thank you. Like you and others here this is my life too.
cool kids club!
Also I just thought you would like to know that my family refers to this phenomenon as “hospital purgatory”
So I know it’s not the same at all, but after I failed out of community college (twice) due to my own ability to just… Not Do My Work or even go to class (let’s sit in the student center and listen to sad songs on repeat while thinking about how one day everyone will be dead and nothing matters and there is no God!), and went kinda nuts, and stopped eating, and went way way more nuts, I found out that a bunch of my aunts and uncles also had “”non traditional”” paths towards their chosen careers, and also struggled, and also didn’t do the whole College Experience thing.
Everyone has their own path and no one path is better than the other and when you peek past the veneer of “normal experience”, a lot of people had a really shit time at university. You have time! You have time. Also home ownership sounds like a drag
“You have time” is maybe a strong assumption on my part bc I don’t know your life but, like, from what I’ve heard: dating in college isn’t great, is what I’m saying? IDK these are things I tell myself
<3
Thank you for sharing. I recognize a lot you write about. It helps me feel less alone while everyone around me is marrying, buying homes, traveling the world and all that.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. <3 It was so nice to read this (and all the comments) and feel less alone