Lyme Strong
Lyme Strong
When I turned on the radio this morning, Stronger by Mandisa is the first song I heard. The lyrics kinda hit me with a bang because they really describe how I’ve felt the past couple of days. Like I’ve been taken under by a wave and I’m struggling to stay afloat.
“When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger,
Stronger”
- Stronger by Mandisa
A little over a month ago, the intensity of my Lyme disease symptoms lessened quite a bit. The fatigue, brain fog, anxiety and headaches I’ve been suffering from for the past year finally became less and less severe. I began to feel like I almost had this thing beat. That I was finally gaining control of this horrible disease that ripped the rug out from under me and sent me on this crazy crusade. Knowing I could relapse at any time, I tried not to get my hopes up too high. But for the first time in nearly a year I felt alive! And it felt amazing!
Unfortunately, after a couple of weeks the Lyme symptoms returned, resulting in lots of pain, no energy and a lot of quality time spent with my couch. Joint and muscle pain is now trough the roof with little relief from painkillers. I tire very quickly and my head often feels fuzzy inside. My heart rate spikes every time I get up so standing for even short periods of time makes me weak.
There is almost nothing worse than coming so close to the finish line only to slow down and take steps backward. It’s so hard for me to sit down and rest when there are so many things I want to do! I can’t tell you how much I miss working and spending time with my family and friends without thinking “oh, this is going to kill me tomorrow.” I’ve taken some things for granted in my life and good health was definitely one of them.
As hard as this journey has been for me and my husband, I can say with 100% certainty that it really has made us stronger. Having Lyme disease has given me the opportunity to learn so much, to help educate others and to raise Lyme disease awareness. My faith has soared and I have a renewed trust in God. Yes, Lyme has weakened me physically, but God has used my situation to make me stronger.
God knows that it hurts. He knows that it’s hard. But He has a bigger plan in the works. And I can’t wait to see what miraculous things are going to come of this.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
Friday, July 1, 2016