I am not my diagnosis

No one goes out like this--certainly not us
We have to admit that one of our professors gave the idea for this week’s post.  Let’s be honest here, no one walks around holding giant signs with their conditions listed.  Your diagnosis is not your label.  The question is why do some people believe that it is.  The answers to that are endless, but basically some people are just awful. 

Why must our diagnosis be the only thing that we are?  Why can’t we be known as something that is positive?  We are both daughters, sisters, students and so much more than our diagnoses.  We love watching random movies and TV shows.  We love to relax and go out with friends.  Though we might not be able to do absolutely everything, we still try.  There are days where we just need to take a break, and others where we can act fairly normal.  We do not go out where we go and start giving out our diagnoses.  If necessary, or if we feel like it we might say something, but we don’t introduce ourselves saying, “Hi.  My name is _____ and I have _____, ______, and _______.”  I mean, no one says that about anything.  “Normal” people discuss their hobbies, or interests when first meeting someone.  News flash, we do as well. 

We don’t carry signs with our conditions listed.  We don’t have shirts, or name tags displaying what is wrong with us.  While it isn’t always easy to hide, we want to be seen as a human.  Imagine if everyone carried signs saying what was “wrong” with them.  No names, no interests, nothing, but what was “wrong” with them.  You are all probably thinking that this is something that would never happen in a million years.  That it is ridiculous, and something that isn’t necessary.  However, we are reduced to what is “wrong” with us all of the time.  Our medical condition becomes our identity.  We are no longer a name, but we are now a diagnosis, we are a number, and we are no longer considered human.  Why do people think that the fact we have a medical diagnosis makes us any different? We have become the “girl with the dog,” “the girl with half a heart,” “the bald girl,” “the girl with spasms.”  The list goes on and on.  We have families, and friends.  We have hopes and dreams. 

If you are someone living without a condition (of any kind), please listen to these words.  We are so much more than our diagnoses.  Please give us a chance, and we can show you.  To those of you with a condition, we are here for you.  We know that not everyday is easy.  There are both good, and bad days.  At the end of the day you are still a human being.  You are so much more than a condition.

WE BELIEVE IN YOU!

Nemo, Tremors, and Secret Agent Puppy

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