Everyone wants to be strong for those around them.  This may be magnified when it comes to someone with a chronic illness.  You spend a lot of time telling everyone you are “fine” when they ask how you are because if you said how you really felt all the time people would feel sorry for you or think you were faking.  You automatically want to be strong for those around you.  You want them to be okay.  You don’t want everyone to worry about you.  Your thinking is that everyone has their own life to worry about and worrying won’t fix anything.

The other side of the coin is that you want to know that your situation affects them and that you are thought about in regards to your health.   There are times that you cry alone because you are scared.  You don’t want to show anyone that side because you don’t want them to be scared for you.  Sometimes you just want to throw a pity party because your life sucks having to deal with all the health crap.  After your pity party/freak out moment you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going.  Being strong is not always easy to do but if you aren’t a fighter your illness will win  Fight until your last breath!

With all that said, I will speak for myself, I want people to ask how I am and if I need anything.  I want people to be concerned with how I am feeling and what is going on in my life in regards to CF.  What I don’t want is someone to feel sorry for me and pity me.  CF is my normal life and it is all I know.  I fight everyday, some days more than others.  I also want people to ask questions about CF and what I go through.  That is the only way people will learn about CF and as you can see I am an open book for that reason.  I am not ashamed of CF, nor do I lessen the truth of the amount of time CF takes in my life.  It would take way too much time and effort to hide CF from people therefore I embrace it.  I choose not to “complain” but rather educate on what I go through everyday.  I never want to make it sound like I have a “poor me” attitude because that is the farthest thing from the truth.  I more so have an “in your face” attitude because I am not willing to cover CF up.

I have a blessed life and couldn’t ask for a more supportive husband.  Plus add in bonus kids who are a great source of motivation.  I have a great friends and family as well who are a great support system.  Team Shannonigans is strong!  All of you who support me are a part of Team Shannonigans and I thank you for that.

Until next time…