A Secret Revealed

The recent issue of the RSDSA newsletter was jolting to me as I read about the secret Linda Lang has been keeping. I have been a huge fan of Linda ever since I read her book 8 years ago. Though we never met, she’s been a mentor of sorts through her book and all she imparts. For that reason, my heart went out to her that she was in a worsened state, as I feel akin to her somehow. Plus, reading the article about her secret was very convicting to me , as I have been keeping a secret of the same nature. You see, I have been homebound for years and bedbound, (loosely speaking), as my bed was the only place I could access with my physical limitations. So that space became my whole little world, which I talked about in my book in the blink of an eye. But just a few months ago, I developed severe leg ulcers and was confined to bed; lying down. About 6 weeks in, I started sitting up a few minutes each day. Rather, I should say tried sitting up each day. The reality is I sometimes made it and sometimes didn‘t but, either way, I would get injured time and time again resulting in more disabilities that ultimately prevented me from getting up at all; including muscle atrophy, which solidified things. So this was my secret …that I was now truly, totally bed bound. I could say honestly to my friends that I was writing a new book and I didn‘t want people to know what was in the second book before reading the first book. However, what I didn’t tell them was that I was embarrassed or ashamed to be so limited and so needy. I didn’t want to be pitied or shunned. But Linda’s article really did convict me that we’re a community and we need to be there for each other, with moral support, prayer support and all else. For myself, it convicted me too that instead of focusing on being bed bound, I need to focus on the fact that it took 26 years to get this way. With all that I’ve been through, I’m glad that my body lasted as long as it did and I’m glad that RSD is now being diagnosed earlier than before so that some people are now experiencing relief or improvement with early treatment. We all need to share our stories and respect each other’s situation with the understanding that, despite all the commonalities, RSD affects everyone differently. We need to pray for each other; sharing each other’s victories and mourning each other’s losses. And, above all else, we need to pray for a cure...that no more people, especially children, would have to endure such pain and debillitation.

A Song Completed

I'm so excited to share with you that the song I posted on here (back in April) has now been put to music by a very talented singer/songwriter, Lequita Hoffpauir, and then made into a video by Tara McCloskey Mandinec.  God has blessed this endeavor and to Him be the glory.