How do you sum up one of the most amazing experiences of your life?
You can't. But you can sure as hell try.
[I'm getting teary already, oh geez. BRING ON THE KLEENEX.]
When Jason suggested last summer that I be his hero for the Caymans Marathon with the Arthritis Society’s Joints in Motion team, I was honoured. So then when he stated I should come down and join as part of the Cheer Team I jumped at the chance, regardless how soon it was to the date of the marathon and how much I had to fundraise.
Words cannot express the absolute love, acceptance, joy, sadness and gratefulness that I experienced over those twelve days. I cried every day for weeks afterward. For both myself and for everyone that shared this amazing event with me, and everyone out there who is dealing with arthritis without much of a support group. This trip gave me something that I haven’t truly felt since being diagnosed with RA nearly seven years ago - a support system. I have amazing family and friends, but there are few people who actually “get it”. That will understand the little [and big!] twinges here and there. The constant dull, aching pain that you actually forget about because it’s just a way of life. The days where you can’t or don’t want to get out of bed because it hurts too much. The way that you modify doing something so that you don’t aggravate a tender joint. The ones who never complain because we have come to deal with this disease silently.
I may have gone down as Jason’s hero for the event but I feel that everyone who participated in the event, arthritis or not, became my hero. My life is a million shades brighter having met all of these wonderful people, and sharing the experience with them.
Of course I wish I had never been diagnosed with this disease. That I could run and jump and do all the wonderful things that I did for 22 years prior. That I wouldn't have to evaluate every outing, every activity, and decide how much it will affect how I feel the following days. But let's focus on the silver lining. Without it, over the last seven years I wouldn't have met some of the most amazing people that I have in my life. People who understand me, who inspire me, who comfort me, who push me just enough to keep me going when the going gets a little tough.
If friendship was wealth, I would be swimming in money like Scrooge McDuck.
