Contest Essay: Face in the Mirror
This month we had a contest and asked some of our readers, members and volunteers to write a creative peice about What has BYDLS and “the spoon theory” meant to you? The short essay below was written by one of our readers/members. Her name is Janet Leah Noles. Thank you for sending this in.
I look into a mirror. I see my twin. No, not a twin, but two reflections. I blink, it is still there. No one else sees it, just me. What once had been dormant inside my body now decided to come out with full force. The hidden disease is called Myasthenia Gravis.
My first visit to a doctor was interesting. At that time, the year being 1990, not much was known about the disease. Few had it and what works for one doesn’t necessary work for another. While medicines were being tested on me, my symptoms were getting worse. I gathered my spoons, separating them and watching them disappear as the days grew longer. I read, while wearing a patch on one eye, what I could learn about the disease. As I read, my fears rose. There was no cure.
Time passed. Finally with rest, treatments and daily medication, the disease went into remission.
From my research I found that stress could put me back into a crisis. In case that happened, I wanted to be prepared. I attended a support group meeting for MG. All in attendance had the same thing I did. ‘They didn’t look sick’, I thought. For the first time I understood how my friends saw me.
Today, symptoms come and go. Never letting them tarnish, I keep my silver polished for a rainy day. It is always a thrill when I find there are spoons left over. By that, I know I have had a good day.
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