I was a perfectly healthy child up until age 15, where my life changed forever.

I was getting weak, feeling pain, tired, I figured maybe I was out of shape. MRIs and tests later, I was diagnosed with a nerve disease called CIDP, making me super weak to the point where I needed leg braces to help me walk because my legs were too weak and tired. my hands became numb, my feet were too weak, I felt tried 24/7; a complete nightmare for a teenager.

I never thought I could develop a chronic illness. I know everyone experiences health issues, but I never thought that I, a person who always had perfect attendance awards, would need to miss school for treatments so I can move and walk normally again.

I was in remission for a few years after which was fantastic. I was dancing, working out, playing sports, and thank god for my leg braces for helping me be able to do these things.

This year I moved out on my own, teach dance, got a full-time job, attended school part-time online, making friends; life was awesome. Fast forward a few months later to this day, my disease returned suddenly.

My hand was becoming weak, my neck became painful, my feet were tingling, my arm and shoulder were in so much pain, I needed to see a doctor.

I went to my neurologist in New Jersey and she sent me to the ER for an emergency MRI of my spine. This confirmed that my nerve disease returned, and now I need to figure out a treatment plan. I want to cry but also want to be strong because I have been enjoying my life when in remission.

Fighting a disease every day of your life is like a second job; it really is. You have to keep on top of your medications, your symptoms, your appointments, let alone deal with the pain and weakness and side effects that come with the disease.

Now I need to fight again and to be honest, I do not want to fight. I am tired and my life was going so well. I do not want to deal with. The messed up part is that sometimes I asked for my disease back to get me away from my normal life because it would get more tiring; now I regret that.

Now I have to get tests and possibly more treatments. Chronic illness is no joke, it is a serious continuous struggle. My disease is treatable but can not be cured, which sucks even more.

Now, what can I do? To be honest, I have to deal with. How I fight is up to me, and it sucks cause I do not want to fight; I want to live without this crap.

Help those with a chronic illness; they need it.