To you.

The one whose life was completely torn apart by chronic illness. The one whose money slowly disappeared from the bank as you went to doctor after doctor trying to figure out what was wrong, and then tried every treatment that might have helped. The one whose friends drifted away, whose relationships failed.  The one who experienced intense heartbreak. The one who was invalidated by countless others. The one who was bullied and broken by others who didn’t understand.  The one who questioned your symptoms since you were told you were completely fine. The one who wondered if you were, in fact, “crazy” as other people thought. The one who was curled up in a ball on the floor feeling isolated, alone, and afraid. The one who felt as if life wasn’t worth living. The one who questioned “why me?”  The one who didn’t know if you could take another day of pain.

I see you. I hear you. I feel you. You are not alone. Your pain is my pain, and my fear is yours. We are connected through our stories, our feelings, and our experiences. Everything you are going through is real, valid, and worth sharing. Your words are powerful and your actions even more so. Just by waking up, by breathing, by existing, you are shining your light. You are needed and important. You matter.

I hold your hand as you sit in the dark, face your demons, and fight your battles.

I hold space for you while you figure out your next step.

I hope that my healing ripples out and reaches you. And I will cheer you on as you come out on the other side.