Re: Shattered Dreams

[Guest guest]

Hi Andy,

It sounds like this disease is showing it's true colors right now. I remember

being where you are. I was diagnosed, was off work, and after a reasonable

period of time I expected to be able to go back to work. Every day brought

new challenges, though, and the days rolled into weeks, and weeks into

months.

When you said, " It is a rocky path we tread with this illness but one hopes

for a light at the end ? "

, it reminded me of the hardest lesson this disease continues to teach me.

Before, I learned that life was about the journey, not about the end. I was

always waiting for ... something, anything...it didn't matter, it seemed like

I could remember making the plans more than enjoying the event.

But, this disease put a twist in the beauty of living in the moment.

Seriously, how was I to appreciate and relish this new 'rocky path,' one day

at a time, one rock after another. I didn't. My focus was on the next

doctor's appointment, when I could take more pain medication, when I was

going to get well. The biggest one was, ' when I feel better. "

It took me a couple of years, actually, I still struggle with it at times,

but the hardest lesson I am learning is that I can't waste any more of my

life waiting until I feel better. Since I was diagnosed I had a daughter get

married, another graduate from college, became a grandmother to 7

grandchildren, and there are so many more life experiences to come.

I have seen people learn to walk barefoot on broken glass. 'It is a technique

of the mind,' they say. I am not sure about broken glass, but I can do rocks.

I'll just sweep up the broken glass and throw them out with the shattered

dreams.

I need room to make new ones.

Karyn

Karyn E. , RN

Founder / Executive Director

Pancreatitis Association International

Corp. Office: Indps, IN, USA 1-