Strength, empathy, and wisdom — three characteristics we obtain just from being chronically ill. Fear, weakness, and obstacles are what we face and feel on an everyday basis. We copers will never quite be “normal”; in fact, a self-injected medication, pricking of the finger, or taking innumerable pills a day is what we consider “normal.”

Sincerely, we recognize that no one will ever fathom just what we go through — unless, of course, we meet someone participating in this sort of life, as well. We are hushed when comparing ourselves in the slightest bit to cancer. “Your story can be so much worse! You should be lucky you don't have cancer.” A story contains a plot, a conflict, and a resolution; all in which, we cannot offer all components to. Our “stories” do not contain a resolution, for our conflict is static and life-long. Many don't seem to understand that, and that is how we obtain our special wisdom and strength. To be advised that, “You should” gives us a feeling of vexation. After a while of hearing others opinions, we start to acquire a knowledge that they just don't understand; for that, we learn the opinions and suggestions are out of care. We have strength in letting the voices speak and wisdom to understand just why they do.

We are empathetic — we have the ability to understand and share feelings of one another. We sympathize a variety of different things, whether it’s a close friend dealing with the flu or a brother learning he has a lactose intolerance. No one is quite like us.

We face obstacles. College was a sensitive subject to the girl whose health was not quite maintained her senior year of high school. Moving away from home, and away from her doctors was not at all a good idea. She was far too unhealthy and could not risk more potential damage to her body, so she stayed in her small home town and registered for community college classes. But she felt dispirited. Her friends and the majority of her graduating class went to four-year universities, got to rush sororities and play sports. She felt she was missing out.

I will, on many occasions, still feel a bit doleful about not being like the normal 18 year old going off to college. However, the community college part of my life was just an obstacle in the road. I will still get to go to a four-year university and study to be what I’ve always desired — a nurse. We face obstacles and many are similar and some very different, though facing these such things gives us more wisdom and appreciation to what things we are able to do.

I would not change being chronically ill if it were for the world; It is a disaster in disguise. It taught me how to be patient, how to appreciate, how to be strong, passionate, and when it is okay to be weak. We learn how to fight against our illness’ over the control of our lives but that fight will never end.

We are strong, we are empathetic, and we are filled with great wisdom.