Wow where do I start. It takes a lot for me to be left speechless but I am unable to put into words the emotion and feelings from this past weekend. It sounds a bit cringe to say but it has been truly life changing.
I have made so many new friends who I know will be friends for life.
To all my new friends from HealtheVoices you all have no idea how much I have appreciated this weekend. The main reason for why it was such a big deal was in November I had a near fatal asthma attack. What was different about this asthma attack was that the asthma consultants were basically there right from the start of the attack. Then the ICU consultant told me if we didn’t turn the cornerstone we would be running out of options and I really needed to turn the corner ASAP. Thankfully I did turn the corner but the attack left me traumatised and I still am living in fear from it. I fear I may not be able to fight the next attack, I fear who will be with me if I have another attack and will they be able to cope. I was also terrified that I would not manage the flight. I know my family were really worried about me coming over on my own but I had to do it for me. I needed to be able to prove to myself I can do it.
Before I came out to Dallas I didnt know what I was going to do moving forward.
Asthma has cost me so much in life and it still does but being able to be among people who know what that fear is like and you don’t just pity each other or say “yeah I know what it is like” you answer it with comments about how you over came adversity and give ideas on how I might do the same. I also had to give up my job which I loved but despite this doors have opened and I will be moving on to great things and with the inspiration and motivation I have taken in from this weekend I will not be looking back.
The other great thing is that I know there is life beyond being ill and you can use your condition to better yourself and to better others as well. I may not be able to control my asthma and control my health but I can control what I do with it and use it to help make changes for others.
I feel so included in a very special group of people.
You guys are all my family and my tribe
x
ANONYMOUS-ASTHMA 