Jennifer Via Flickr
All these remarkable women will tell you that they started their journeys with relatively blissful healthy lives until their individual chronic conditions were diagnosed.
They all spent a period of time in denial and anger which manifested in noncompliance and nonadherence to medical therapy, which is often less than ideal and minimally effective.
The early months and years of diagnoses were more stressful and unpredictable with ER, hospital admissions and urgent doctors visits.
However, once these ladies started accepting their diagnosis and made the decision to get in the driver seat and manage the chronic condition, their life courses turned dramatically.
Lora, who deals with rheumatoid arthritis describes how after a few years of feeling lost and scared, she “..awoke one day and made the decision that this disease would not defeat me or dictate my life.”
This mental decision, whether abrupt or gradual, whether declared after a few months or a few years after diagnosis – they all faced it. This pivotal declaration that their diseases did not run them or define them became the moment where strength and good became products too not just pain and fatigue.
Shanelle, Jennifer, and Lora all feel that their chronic conditions have made them truer, stronger, braver and more grateful individuals. They all tout common themes of advice that comes from first hand knowledge and experience.
1. Care for yourself first- which includes understanding your body, your condition, being kind and taking the time to exercise, eat right and feed the soul and mind
2. Fostering a supportive team– spending time with loved ones and nurturing positive relationships, being an active and responsible patient and using the word “No”
3. Live and express gratitude– whatever the outlet or method may be…create, share and inspire
Our ladies all live based on these sound truths and have turned disabling incurable medical conditions into pivot points for driving their personal lives and careers. They have and are creating positive and enduring legacy work. All this good comes from the pain and struggles because these brave women decide consciously and with purpose that they are stronger than their individual health issues.
We will continue to look forward to seeing what these wonderful women accomplish and wish them all blessed. long and gratitude filled lives.
As a sufferer of more than one auto immune disease, I have to say thank you for bringing more light to this often over looked area.
You are welcome Erin.
I too suffer with a couple of different ones as well and its nice to be able to hear other peoples stories, knowing I’m not the only one.
You are certainly not alone Bonnie.
I suffer from chronic pain due to arthritis. It truly something that if you don’t suffer from it, you probably don’t understand. There are days I can’t do much or if I do too much one day the next day I am paying for it. I have learned to do my best and accept it when I can’t do something but most of all listen to my body.
You could not have said it better Christina- listening to your body is so crucial when living with a chronic, incurable condition.
I’m glad that you’re bringing all these to light.
Thank you for this. I struggle with Lupus. It changes the person that you were to the person you become. You have to find the best in life and be grateful for special moments. Life is a gift-Use it well.
Laura,
The default when you receive a life-altering diagnosis like Lupus is to slip into despair but you have chosen to say “I have Lupus, it does not have me”.
Way to go!
This is great! I have a good friend with Lupus, among a few others, & I always see her struggle when people think that she’s “not that sick”.
Melissa,
I bet your friend really appreciates the empathy she gets from you.
It should hopefully make up for the lack of understanding (or compassion) directed her way.
That is amazing, these stories are so encouraging to me!
Thank you for sharing I have a family member with Lupus and never realized the struggle she faces.
Geanine,
You could not have known. Lupus tends to quietly wreck havoc on the internal organs- particularly the kidneys.
Other than stiffness in the joints especially in the mornings, it’s hard to see the suffering brought on by lupus.
One of my mantras is “be kind to everyone for they are fighting a secret battle.” It’s so amazing that you are raising awareness about this and bringing real women and real stories and real women. Big kudos and big hug!
Elayna,
Thanks for the kind words.
It’s very heartwarming. The support alone makes this wonderful. I’m glad I happened across your write-up on this today. 🙂
I used to suffer with type 2 diabetes. I believe it was due to the brain tumor that I had. But after the tumor was removed all that I was left with was residual tissue growth on my face from acromegaly.
Thanks for sharing this info. It is important to bring awareness.