Some say I am disabled,
But you know that isn’t true.
I simply have a challenge
A little different from you.
My slight inconvenience, has taught me
Things they could not know.
Each obstacle is a victory,
Enabling me to grow.
I’m not really any different,
I cry, I laugh, I snore.
I don’t want to be treated
As if I’m not a person anymore.
Out of good intentions,
People are afraid to let me try.
But sometimes I have to fall,
And sometimes I need to cry.
God gives me strength and dignity,
And the courage to be all I can be.
For He doesn’t see me as disabled,
He just sees me as me.
~Author Unknown~
Many Lupus Survivors are labeled disabled and have to live a life with a disability that many can not understand. Although we walk day to day looking good, it is important to know that a Lupus Warrior is not always feeling good. We struggle day to day to complete daily tasks and sometimes we hurt so much physically and emotionally that we just cry on a whim. It does not mean that we want your sympathy and to be treated differently than the person we really are. We want our loved ones to understand and empathize with our disability and allow us to be who we have always been to them. Too often when a Lupus Survivor divulges their disease to another the sympathy comes out and we are treated differently.
Sometimes people get angry because of our disease… other times people try and overcompensate for where we are lacking without realizing the lack is just for a moment… others look at us with sadness saying to themselves what a pitiful life we must lead because of the disability we have….
Most times a Lupus Warrior just wants to be understood. We need others to understand that we will not always be able to do all that we used to but we don’t want to be put on your pity list. We want you to understand that when we feel good we would like the opportunity to do good and when we feel bad that you understand that and allow us that time to build ourselves back up.
A Lupus Warrior struggles from day to day and we can only make it when those around us view us as who we really are and not as just a Lupus Survivor.
Loved ones remember we have lupus, lupus does NOT have US. We are still the same person just with a different walk.
Spread the word, See me as me not as the challenges I face day to day.
#LupusInColor