I walked....

So, the 2016 Palm Beach Lupus walk has come and gone and it just wouldn't be right if I didn't show pictures or tell about the experience. Now to most situations, there is always a good and a bad, but here, the good outweighed the bad. I was so happy to be in a place where there were people just like me, fighting a disease with all they got, one day at a time. I was so happy to see the families of everyone out supporting their loved ones. I wanted to run around and jump, but I didn't want to embarrass my team so I kept my excitement together. I was so happy to have some of my closest family members by my side, supporting me, like they always have.

Dealing with a chronic disease is very heartbreaking but it's worst when you don't have your family and friends there for support. To all my family members, church members, and friends that came out to support me, I thank you. I thank you for always believing that I could do better and be better despite the obstacles laid before me.  I thank you especially my family for sticking it through all the way and being there no matter how bad Lupus got. This Lupus journey can't be done alone--this journey has been a team effort. Even though they may not fully understand because they don't have the disease doesn't mean that they can't comfort you. Ok, off the mushy gushy, back to the walk--I felt my eyes watering up.

You don't meet many people on a day to day basis that have Lupus so being in a place full of Lupies was exciting because you get to get the first hand look and knowledge with people with other types of Lupus--yes there are different types. So, I saw people with Discoid Lupus. That is where Lupus attacks the skin and joints pretty much. Rashes form on the skin and cause really bad bruising. To paint a better picture, imagine that you were riding a bike, and you fell and scrapped your arm and all the skin came off, revealing the pink flesh. That is what Discoid Lupus can look like. Bruising like they hit something or bruised themselves.   I looked at one woman with Discoid Lupus and it made me wonder. I asked myself, "which would you rather have? Systemic Lupus or Discoid". I always felt like Systemic is worst because of it touching and shutting down organs like a flood. Because of it's deadly silence through the body without making a single sound. I thought systemic was worst because I felt like I get some of the Discoid plus more; I am on dialysis for crying out loud. But after seeing many with it, they are equal. I wanted to ask her how does it make her feel. I wonder if it lowers her self esteem because she is always conscious of what everyone around her thinks. I didn't ask her, even though I should have.

Besides that, the walk was awesome.Even though it was hot, I was happy that the rain stayed in the sky. It was very short and quick but I was definitely aching later. 

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