To My Roommates: Thank You for Supporting Me as I Got My Diagnoses

For my dearest roommates,

It must not have been easy for you to get to know me, and learning how I was chronically ill with an undiagnosable illness. You watched me struggle sometimes and always offered your help, even though you already knew I didn’t want it. Thank you for not taking over, even though I can imagine it was hard for you to watch me struggle.

You always offered a supportive word and never stopped inviting me to things, even though I only went occasionally. I want you to know, how much I appreciated that. It allowed me to feel like I hadn’t been forgotten.

You were with me when I finally got my postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and small fibre peripheral neuropathy diagnosis, and then you were with me again when I got the vitiligo diagnosis. I cannot count the times you’ve listened to me vent, or given me a shoulder to cry on, when I find the world too cruel and unfair to want to carry on. Thank you for giving me the strength to move forward. You’ve been watching me struggle to figure out this new identity, and love me all the same. Thank you for not leaving when times were hard.

Thank you for every hour you have spent with me in the ER waiting room, when I have been scared, anxious, and in pain.

As frustrating as it has been learning to live with these chronic illnesses, I am truly grateful to have people like you on my team. I may not always be OK, but with you around there is never a day that goes by without laughter.

Thank you for everything you have done for me. Whether you know it or not, you have made me a better person.

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