Day 7

Every four weeks I wait for a very important delivery. To call it important is not even a big enough of a word, because this delivery gives me the ability to wake up in the morning and swing my legs over the bed, to hold my toothbrush, to lean in to kiss my husband, to wrap my arms around him, to walk down the stairs to greet my pugs...to even be able to hold my morning glass of water to my lips. The delivery is freedom, movement, hope and a whole lot of prayer thrown in there for good measure.

Let me show you what I wait for every 4th Friday.

Enbrel Sure Click Autoinjector. 

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis June 2008. I was positive that my life was over. I was sure that I would end up a crippled mess of a woman living with a nurse or even worse...living with my husband who would have to take care of me while giving up aspects of his own life. I literally fell apart and refused to speak to anyone in my life with the exception of my husband. Troy spent a lot and I mean a lot of time trying to remind me that RA was not the end of the world and that I needed to fight harder than I ever had in my life. Nothing seemed to sink in. I heard the words, I understood what he was saying...I heard my dr. telling me that my RA was caught so early that I would never suffer any disfigurement or become crippled. It didn't matter. All I knew was that I was in the worst pain of my life and I refused to leave my own pity party.

The day I decided to forget everything I have ever heard about RA, to define it MYSELF and to try not to pay attention to any commercials, negative articles or even worse - pictures of patients with RA, is the day my life changed. I started to fight but like with every battle ever fought I needed more than just will power, prayer and a strong support base of family and friends. 

Enbrel was not the first medicine I tried, far from it. The road to figuring out it was the perfect med for me  was a pretty scary one that nearly cost me my life. It was so worth it. One little shot once a week and I am good as new. I won't lie and say I am always comfortable.  My pain level is still higher than most people, I am usually running a bit of a fever, a simple cold can put me in the hospital with full blown pneumonia if I am not careful but..I can do everything you can do.

I wake up thrilled to be alive. I don't take for granted being able to bend over and tie my shoes, I live for going to the track nearly every single day, I count the days until I am able to complete my first triathlon at my husband's side and more than that...I live. Every single day. I live. 

Till next time,

Romy

Droid