For most people living with a chronic disease, sometimes the easiest of tasks are not easy. Sometimes for those people, managing to get up in the morning, start the car and just surviving through the day are the small victories you cannot even imagine how significant they are to them. But between it all, those people living with a chronic disease are more than just their diagnosis, because to people like me, they are heroes. Welcome to the life of a Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patient. For those who do not know what RA is, I have provided a brief explanation. Although a simple definition or explanation is far from what it is like to have this disease, it can give you a small glimpse of what it is like to struggle with it. According to Arthritis Foundation “Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is defined as an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system – which normally protects its health by attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses – mistakenly attacks the joints. This creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (the synovium) to thicken, resulting in swelling and pain in and around the joints. The synovium makes a fluid that lubricates joints and helps them move smoothly”.
My mother has been suffering with RA for over more than 10 years. She is the first person in our family to have this condition. Because of RA, she sometimes is unable to the simplest of things, like opening a door knob, starting up the car in the morning, and even brush her hair. For many years she has tried to seek answers and help for he condition. Recently she underwent surgery where she had her joints replaced so that she can have at least a better quality of life. Despite her illness, she somehow manages to wake up every morning and go to work. She rarely calls in sick even on the days where she has barely slept and is in a lot of pain. Often people don’t realize that any time of disease especially RA does not only affect the patient, but everyone around them as well. I can recall how my mom used to avoid asking for help because she felt like a burden every time she could not do the easy things alone. With time, she managed to follow therapy sessions, which helped her soothe her pain and lower the intake of medicines. Growing up I has seen her take more than 5 different types of pills a day. At times it was scary, because I was much more afraid that she would overdose on them considering the high dosage. Because of the unbearable pain, she would take more pills than needed to numb the pain of RA away, but that would only work for a few hours until coming back. When you are someone suffering with a disease like RA, it becomes a very personal and close relationship. Because no one except your illness knows how much pain and suffering you go through on a daily basis. You would easily turn down invitations to gatherings because you would prefer to avoid any situation, which would make you get up and get dressed. Can you imagine not being able to even give a simple handshake because of how much the joints of your hand hurt? Being the child of an RA patient has taught me patience. It has made me realize that if you are hopeful and patient enough, better days will come. It has taught me that often the little things we take for granted are the biggest desires a patient with RA has, like using your hands or going for walks and runs. And above all, despite the long sleepless nights, immense pain, and long journey, my mother has taught me that she is much more than her RA condition. She is more than just a mother; she is a warrior and fighter. Her hands may be disfigured because of her RA and although going through a lot of pain still, she manages to provide for family and pushes her children forward. I believe that is the most rewarding feeling for any patient with RA. Because in reality there exists no such thing as limitations, except the ones we label on people. Being the child of an RA patient has made me more grateful than ever, and if my mother can manage through it, so can you.
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My name is Keyla and I am a second year university student studying social work. I blog about social media, lifestyle, health, beauty, love, relationships, career and student life-hacks. Leave a comment and give my articles a ❤️ or 👍🏻 and don't forget to share to show your support. 😘, Keyla Publication Dates
March 2018
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