Time is a finite thing when it comes to our lives regardless of whether we are healthy or ill. None of us know how long we will have on this planet before our time is up. This is a fact. Also a fact is that while many of us do not wish to talk about it we really need to be having the difficult discussions with our family about what we )and they) may desire should either become unable to make or communicate decisions regarding their medical care on their own.

Zebras #AtoZChallenge

There is nothing more frustrating as a patient than having a provider look at you and summarily discount your symptoms as ‘impossible’. It is very common that we are hesitant, even afraid, of that which we do not understand. It is also true that those trained to diagnose and treat us could and should be held to a higher standard.

It is to them we look when our body revolts against us in ways which we do not understand. It is them to whom we turn when we feel our body couldn’t possibly be destroying itself as it seems to be doing. It is our physicians we look to for an answer of that which we cannot make sense of on our own. And that is how it should be for they are the ones with years and years of education and experience upon which to base their examination and diagnosis.

F is for Keep Fighting! #AtoZChallenge

When facing a chronic health issue it is easy to lose the determination to fight at times. Many of us display great fortitude when fighting chronic illness. We don’t necessarily do this because we are any better than anyone else. We do this because this is all we know. We keep fighting for the next potential treatment, or if we are truly lucky a cure. We often fight one day, week, or month at a time, just trying to make it until the we make it through, or are faced with another challenge in addition to the one we already had.

E is for Being Excited About Life! #AtoZChallenge

So you or someone you care about has a chronic illness. It isn’t the end of life as you know it.

Remember the excitement for life that you had before you got sick? You can have that again! Just because your health has changed, maybe even drastically, does not mean all is lost.

Today, more so than ever before, technological advances have enabled even the most limited in physical activity to remain at the very least mentally active. So if you have the desire, there are lots of things you can do to remain active and yes, even passionate about life!