Living Chronically Blessed

May is Ehlers Danlos awareness month.

If you follow me on social media or even read this blog, then you’re going to hear about this disease a lot this month. I bring awareness to EDS not because I want sympathy, but because I want empathy. I don’t necessarily want your empathy for myself, although I wouldn’t mind that extra benefit. I want to stir up empathy for the hurting and newsflash, that narrows it down to every single one of us.

I have a genetic disorder that causes even my daily tasks like putting on my shoes to be not only painful but dangerous for my joints. My mom has a disease that causes her lungs to give up on her. My counselor has a disease that eats away at her joints. My neighbor has a disease that keeps him from remembering his own wife. My Instagram friend has a disease that makes it hard for him to breathe. My friend from school has a disease that causes her hair to fall out. Chronic illness is all around us.

The Rand Corporation states, “Nearly 150 million Americans are living with at least one chronic condition; around 100 million of them have more than one. And nearly 30 million are living, day in and day out, with five chronic conditions or more.”

That means that almost half of Americans are living with a chronic illness. That means that you know someone with a chronic illness. That means that you have the opportunity to show empathy towards someone you know.

I am a big advocate for the idea that you have no idea what someone else is going through. The reality is that we’re all going through something, battling something. I just happen to be battling Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

If chronicling my battle encourages you to show empathy towards someone battling their own battle, then my heart is full. The world could use some more people with empathy in their hearts.

I also bring awareness for EDS, because it’s my life and not many people know what that means. If I told you I’m a student, a nurse, or a mom, maybe you would understand what my life kind of looks like. But, I’m not any of those things, not yet at least.

I am an Ehlers Danlos warrior and my life and battle is uniquely mine.

I choose to let you in on some of the battle in hopes that someone starting their journey might find the strength and encouragement to keep fighting. I bring awareness to my battle so that you can see that no matter what you’re fighting, there is still joy to be found.