To My Healthy Best Friend, From Your Friend With Chronic Illness

Dear Healthy Best Friend,

I love you more than words can say. I am forever thankful for the hours you have spent listening to me cry and complain about medicine, helping me with my infusions and dealing with me while I am on a rough batch of steroids.

Thank you for trying to understand my illness. In the last three years, you have probably learned more about the human body than you would have in anatomy class. One of the most amazing feelings is being able to talk freely in the medical language I have become familiar with and having you understand it. I understand this is a difficult task, and one that definitely does not pertain to you.

Thank you for understanding. As you know better than I do by now, my illness is unpredictable. There are days I feel like a million dollars and the next day I wake up barely functioning. Thank you for being so considerate if I have to cancel, and always supporting me when I am sick. Nothing brightens up a sick day like receiving a text from you telling me to feel better and hoping I get better as soon as possible.

 

Regardless if I am an emotional wreck due to steroids, thank you for always being there for me and reassuring me. No matter what, I know I am able to turn to you and trust in you to understand what I am going through, and to offer me hope when I am struggling to see it. I did not choose to have a chronic illness, but I believe it is one of the most amazing things that you chose to stay by me with my illness. I love you so much and the words above cannot begin to express my gratitude for everything you have done for me as your chronically ill best friend.

Love,

Your Chronically Ill Best Friend

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Thinkstock photo via AntonioGuillem.