The Difference A Decade Makes

(Cross posted from Facebook)

Happy New Year, everyone! (It's already new year's eve here in New Zealand, with the decade ending in just a few hours.)

At the end of 2009, I was on a lot of steroids and pain killers, neither of which were really helping my autoimmune arthritis. My weight was ballooning, my muscles were weakening in an alarming way, and I could barely walk. I was very depressed and anxious, and it didn't seem like any of it would ever get any better.

But... a lot can change in 10 years.

I had friends and family who loved and supported me, a counsellor who really helped, and a nurse and GP who fought for me, at times against my own specialists. The nurse got me on an amazing miracle drug, I went into a partial remission, and got my life back on track.

But of course life is never that simple. There have been many ups and seriously low downs, many extra diagnoses, and the amazing life-changing gift of an assistance dog, from the fabulous team at Assistance Dogs New Zealand.

I've written books, fallen in and out of love, and had so many joyful, exciting, weird and wonderful moments.

My body has done some f**king weird shit, and it's been both hilarious and terrifying, but I'm glad to say most of the time the laughter has won. And I'm even more glad to say, I am ending this decade happy, and with more health and strength than I ever could have imagined ten years ago.

Living with chronic illness and disability is so so hard at times, but part of what makes it hard is the fact that it's so changeable. Don't ever forget, sometimes that change can be for the good.

Little Miss Autoimmune