Life Doesn't End When You Have A Disability

Originally Written:  May 31, 2009

Vol. 1, Issue 2

Hi Everybody,

Today I wanted to share with you how my evening went.  Tonight we had youth team drill practice.  We have a rodeo coming up this weekend and Nationals are coming up the end of June.  I managed to stay on the horse and actually remembered all of the different moves in the drill.  Needless to say I had a wonderful time and for a few hours forgot all about this horrible disease.

As you know, I suffer from severe Fibromyalgia.  I have good days and I have bad days.  Today was one of those good days.  You couldn't tell the difference between a healthy person walking down the street or me!  My passion since I was a little girl has always been horses.  When I was young I collected the Breyer model horses because mom refused to let me put a pony in the back yard.  Go figure!

Anyway, my son and I ride with a local drill team.  Since my disease is so severe, I cannot ride on the drill team with the rest of the ladies.  On good days I can ride in the parades and I can help out with ground support during competitions and rodeos.  Where am I going with this?  Well, since 2005 I've been trying to control my horse at a lope and still be able to walk the next day.  I've managed to accomplish one of the two...guess which one!  Unfortunately, it’s only during the warm season and only on days that my Fibromyalgia is in agreement.   You all know that FMS has a mind of it’s own and what it decides to do ALWAYS takes lead role.

This year I have been asked to ride with the novice youth team in their competition this June.  I was elated but cautiously optimistic.  After explaining that there was a significant need to have a back up, just in case I was too weak on the day I needed to ride, I was told "No problem"!   So, my life long dream may finally be coming true.  Not only do I own a horse, I may actually be able to ride with the team in the drill.  I will be filling in this weekend at a rodeo, since there are 3 riders that cannot attend.  My first real live performance!  I'm both excited and terrified at the same time.  I'm sure I will be sore afterwards, but the more I ride, the less severe the pain is afterward.

It is very exciting for me and I hope that I can give others with this terrible disease hope that if they can find the right mix of medication and therapy, there lives don't have to be over.

I'm 41 years old.  I refuse to let this disease end my hopes and dreams.  Just because I may have to slow down and rest, I still have the God given right to dream and strive to reach the goals I have set for myself.

Have a blessed week everyone.  Remember to be thankful for your health.  We all don't have healthy strong bodies to lean on and even the strongest of people can have their health removed from them with one doctor’s visit.  Don’t waste your good days!   Rejoice in every day that you have and get out in the world and see God’s beauty!  It’s all around you.  All you have to do is open your eyes and your hearts and you will see the blessings that are there for you!

Bobbie

© Robynn “Bobbie” Dinse / Bobbie’s World Blogs

Please note that this short story is copyrighted and should not be reprinted in any form without permission from the author

Feel free to link to “Bobbie’s World Blog’s” 

                 

Thank you!

A Word About Unseen Illness and Disability

Originally Written:  May 30, 2009

Vol. 1, Issue 1


Hello Cruel World!  Just kidding, welcome to my first personal blog!

Today I want to talk a little bit about unseen illnesses.  The people closest to me know that I suffer from severe chronic migraines and severe Fibromyalgia.  When I was 34, I was in a really bad car accident that resulted in neck surgery. I now live with a titanium plate in my neck to help support the vertebrae that were fused together as a result of damage from the impact.  I recovered from the accident just fine, but then about a year later I noticed a sharp increase in my migraines and a lot of all over body pain and severe fatigue.  I went to my doctor and after extensive testing was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

Many people don't know what Fibromyalgia is and because it isn't something you can see like an amputated leg or a disfiguring injury, people won't know that you have it unless you tell them.  What I have found is that the fatigue and pain slows me down so much that it does get mistaken for laziness or a lack of drive, which is both unfortunate and unfair.  I have good days and bad days.  On my good days I can function for a short period of time almost as normal as everyone else.  On bad days I may not even be able to get out of bed. 

On the up side, I try to make the most of each day and on my good days I thank God and treat them as precious moments.  They are making advances all the time in the treatment of this unfortunate disease and it is my hope that someday they will find a cure.  At the moment, there is no cure.  You treat the symptoms and hope for the best.  I think my biggest peeve is when someone says, "If I can do it, I don't see why you can't."  Well world it's like this.  If I only get three hours of sleep or push my body past my personal limits, I can end up hospitalized. Or at the very least in bed for a day or two, perhaps weeks, and maybe even have to take a steroid dose pack to control the pain and regain my ground.  Everyone has limits and we need to respect those differences.  God did not pull out the cookie cutter from his kitchen drawer when He created man and woman.  Not everyone was made the same and we all struggle with different problems, be them physical, mental or family issues, we all have hardships!  A healthy friendship is based on respect.  Without that respect, the friendship cannot flourish and grow deeper.  So before you judge someone because they cannot do what you do, perhaps you should ask yourself if there is more to the situation than meets the eye.

So my quote for the day is from the Bible. "Love one another as I have loved you."  The next time you open your mouth to say something about another person, first ask yourself:  "Do I know what is really going on in this person's life?  Am I being overly critical?  What is the benefit of my comment?  Am I lifting this person up or tearing them down?   Is it possible that I feel that I am better than this person and by stepping on their feelings, I affirm myself?" Hmmm…..food for thought.   I hope the right choice is made for the benefit of everyone involved.

Have a great weekend!

Bobbie

© Robynn “Bobbie” Dinse / Bobbie’s World Blogs

Please note that this short story is copyrighted and should not be reprinted in any form without permission from the author  Feel free to link to “Bobbie’s World Blog’s”  

 Thank you!