I promise to accept the fact that I have Chiari Malformation, a neurological
disorder which will limit my abilities in my everyday life.
While I will always have Chiari, some days will be good and some days will
be bad. I will be thankful for the good days and try to make the most of them.
When I am having a bad day, I will try to remember that most likely it will
not last.
When I am having a bad day, I will listen to my body, and get the rest that I
need. I will let my family know that I am not feeling well, because they cannot
read my mind.
I will not feel guilty about resting, because I will eventually begin to feel
better, and in the long run, it will also benefit my family. They will not
become malnourished if they eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for
dinner.
I will not feel guilty or worry about the work that is not getting done while I
am resting. The world will not fall apart without me, even though it looks like
it already has.
I will not let anyone else make me feel guilty for taking time out for myself.
They will never understand exactly what I am experiencing, the pain that I
feel, the exhaustion that I feel. They will never understand the fear that I feel
when my symptoms creep up on me, and land me flat on my back.
I promise not to feel sorry for myself when I am feeling bad, because there
are a lot of people out there who are in worse shape than I am. I will not be
sorry for what I don’t have, but be thankful for what I do have.
I promise to learn a lesson from my illness, which is not to take life for
granted. I will enjoy every moment that was given to me, and be thankful
for the times that I can smile and laugh.
I will try to help others who also suffer from my condition. There are many
confused and frightened people who need to hear comforting words from
someone who has been there. There are many people who need me to take his
or her hand and be pointed in the right direction.
Lastly, I will not ask, “Why me?” While Chiari has weakened my physical
body, it has strengthened my heart, my soul, and my spirit.
Written by: Sheila Reilly
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2 comments:
Amen! Thanks for sharing ~ I like to think of chiari as an opportunity to rise up above it all. People are still shocked and amazed when they ask what's wrong and i tell them ~ brain surgery in less than 2 weeks. There is sooo much to learn about chiari and i am looking forward to feeling better so that i can contribute to the chiari community more :) hugs ~ Lace
Well said! I'm a Chiari/syringo fighter. I've made it through thyroid cancer, endometriosis, a meningioma brain tumor, and now tumors of the kidney as well as Chiari. I am 45yr.old mother/grandmother of five children (ages 7-21) and a 16 mo. old grandson.
Faith, Family and Friends~that's what keeps me going!
For you new Chiarians~you are not alone. You can do anything you put your mind to...even if they take some of it out :)
Prayers~Karen
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