Most people with a long term illness loose many of their friends during the time of the illness. People just cannot cope or deal with the specific needs that people go through when they have a long term illness (LTI), or with the fact that when you come out on the other side the disease has changed you so dramatically, you simply are not who you once were. It is sad to see those friends go, but it is also a great Joy to have new friends come into your life that "get" LTI and what a LTI does to you.
Tonight there is a benefit for my very good/best friend that i have met (reconnected with) since my illness. We went to HS together, I cant say we were close but we could chat. She has sarcoidosis.
Sarcoidosis is a disease that is not well known. When I first got sick with my Hodgkin disease, they had this disease in the mix of what i could possibly have. I have thanked God that i do not have this disease. because through her, I now know what it does and how terrible this can potentially be.
the Mayo clinic defines this disease as....
Sarcoidosis (sahr-koi-DO-sis) is characterized by the development and growth of tiny clumps of inflammatory cells in different areas of your body — most commonly the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes and skin.
Doctors believe sarcoidosis results from an abnormal immune response — most likely to something inhaled from the air — but just what triggers this response isn't known. The course of sarcoidosis is variable from person to person. Often, it goes away on its own, but in some people signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis may last a lifetime....
She tries not to complain about it, and i think shes a real trooper. they are treating her with a second course of steroids. she will be treated for a minimum of one more year (7/2011). then they will try to wean her off of the steroids and hopefully she will receive a remission. The picture above was taken just prior to her illness. She has been in treatment for 2 1/2 years.So Today's Post is for my friend who I am so grateful to have in my life. I hope that anyone local can come out to her benefit at our local moose.
2 comments:
I'm just stumbled upon your blog..
I'm happy that you have found some good friends..
I'm in that transition state right now.. and i'm loosing a lot of friends/family right now.. because of my health issues.
but I'm glad because i can see what people are real and who are not
Pretty ~ the transition time is hard.not only for you but for them. and oddly even though my health is better, i am still loosing some along the way.just due to what i feel i need out of friends have changed. I feel i need closer tight knit relationships now. and many friends/family just never were. I know it is hard, but keep your chin up! it eventually smooths out. try not to be angry with those that go, it is no more their fault that they cant cope as your health is yours.
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