The above title has changed a bit from the popular poem, "What Cancer Cannot Do" I just wrote a long story about my experience with cancer, as it is so near and dear to my heart. I have lost so many family members and friends to this dreaded disease; yet, I do not allow it to take away the memories and joy that I have for those people that are no longer with us. And there is still fight in me! I want to kick cancer's butt! I currently work at Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute and every day, I help my patient's schedule chemo therapy and testing to make sure that their disease is stopped in its tracks and moved backwards, out of their body, so that they can live life to the fullest, cancer free! It does not always work, but I do my best.
I write all that to let you know why I changed the title of this first blog to "What a Disease cannot do" because my personal experience, my own story, does not deal with cancer. I have only been the care taker of someone with cancer, I have never personally experienced cancer in my body. But I have dealt with a deadly disease and am still on the journey to recovery. Unfortunately, my disease is not currently in remission, though I thought it was. It's a tricky disease that if you are not careful, can slide you backwards faster than you can say "Stop!"
My disease is anorexia nervosa...a disease that is not often talked about. It is so common for us to express sympathy or empathy when we hear that a person has been diagnosed with cancer. But, what of an eating disorder? How do people respond to that? The myriad of things I have heard are for another post....but let's just say, it is not always sympathetic or empathetic. But, anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and other eating disorders not otherwise specified are TRUE diseases, ones that take away millions of men and women each year. Yes, I said men and women. There are so many stereotypes that go along with an eating disorder that are invalid that I want to post some stats for you to show you what an eating disorder TRULY is:
1. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness
2. Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the United States.
3. Only 1 in 10 million men and women with eating disorders receive treatment.
**Stats taken from www.anad.org**
Amazing, isn't it, that though an eating disorder has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, just as cancer is the second highest cause of mortality of any physical illness in the US, that we aren't talking more about it. Or treating it for that matter....but again, that is for another post.
My goal here is to show that anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders are diseases, just as Cancer is a disease. And what cancer cannot do, neither can an eating disorder. Here is the poem for those who may never have read it, with my thoughts at the end of each line:
What Cancer/Anorexia/ANY DISEASE Cannot Do- Author Unknown
It cannot cripple Love- Family and Friends still love us, no matter what
It cannot shatter Hope- Where there is life, there is hope
It cannot corrode Faith- My faith in God is what keeps me going
It cannot destroy Peace- Peace comes in the quiet nights, no matter how I'm feeling
It cannot kill Friendship- I've gained more friends through my journey than I ever knew possible
It cannot suppress Memories- I have wonderful memories that my anorexia can NEVER take away
It cannot silence Courage- Courage is admitting I needed help...and got it!
It cannot invade the Soul- My soul is filled with the Holy Spirit, no my eating disorder
It cannot steal Eternal Life- Praise God my eternal life is secure in Him who is faithful, not in an evil spirit!
It cannot conquer the Spirit.- God always wins, no matter what!
So you see, no matte what disease you might be going through, be it cancer, an eating disorder, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, depression, anxiety, diabetes, the list goes on and on...no matter what it is you are going through, your disease cannot take away these beautiful things that we all hold dear. DO NOT let yourself believe the disease...it will tell you that you have lost everything. When I feel like there is no hope, I have no one left that cares for me or that God is not on my side, I go back and read this....for it is then that I am reminded of the truth. That my disease only has the power that I give it...and if I, Kaitlyn, want to be in control, then I need to remind my disease of the truth. And that is what sets me free....
What do you use to remind yourself of the truth? To get you through each day of struggle and pain?
Until next time,
Kaitlyn
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