I Hate Seeing Others Suffer From The Same Chronic Illness I Have | The Odyssey Online
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I Hate Seeing Others Suffer From The Same Chronic Illness I Have

What it feels like to see other people with disabilities be treated badly when you have the same disability

Gabrielle Elkas
Sep 16, 2018
Rhode Island College
190
I Hate Seeing Others Suffer From The Same Chronic Illness I Have
Personal Photo

A little over five years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and a little over 15 years ago they discovered my mom also suffered from a chronic illness. Though we have the same illness, she has a more severe form of the same illness and every day I watch people treat her like less because she moves slowly in stores, has a rash on her skin, and has trouble with basic fine motor skills.

Every day I defend her, advocate for her, and support her but I secretly am worried that one day I will face the same inequality that she does. It can be difficult when you see someone you love in pain, but it is even scarier wondering if you are watching into a magic mirror seeing your fate.

But at the same time when I look at my mom, I see grace, class, and strength in the way she handles herself. She holds her head up high, stands up for herself, and moves on. I did not just inherit RA from my family, I inherited the same spirit as them. I get to watch my mom make the best of what she was given daily, and for that I am grateful.

I get to say that I am an overcomer because my mom showed me how to fight for my rights, stand tall, and be proud that I get to represent thousands of people that have the same illness as me every day.

One day I will have to choose to become a victor over my illness, or do I let it define me. I will chose the first option because that is what my mom taught me to do. She teaches me daily to take the higher ground, to smile and pray for the people that make comments about us, because if they are complaining about having to wait an extra 2 seconds to get past us, they have it worse off in life.

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