Coming upon National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week I was thinking of another idea to write about. All of a sudden the lightbulb went off and a smile came to my face upon thinking of my dear friend I have met through work that holds a very special place in my heart. I printed off some of my articles for her to read to see if she approved of me writing about her. After telling me that I was ministering to those with chronic illness and should continue to do so I got her approval. She has asked me not to use her name, so we will call her Sunshine.
I am an office manager at an in-home care agency. When employees are out for various reasons I fill in at our clients homes. I was blessed with meeting Sunshine about 4 months ago and knew right away what a special person she was. Sunshine is 89 years old, although she sure looks much younger. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1991. A wheelchair is what Sunshine uses to get around her house. I know that Sunshine is in pain all the time. Might I say though that she has a better, brighter outlook on life than many people without illness and pain. When I come to visit, I am greeted with a big smile, a twinkle in those bright eyes and a warm hug! Sunshine told me about one of the visits to her rheumatologist. When the nurse was checking her in her legs were stiff and she asked the nurse if she saw her plodding. The nurse said, "plodding?" "Only you come up with these words for things." When the rheumatologist came in the nurse replied that Sunshine was fine all except for plodding. She seems to brighten everyones day around her.
Sunshine was a nurse and I am sure an excellent one at that. The stories she shares are priceless. She speaks of working on the pediatric floor and I can picture the love and care she gave to all of those children. Her husband was in the Air Force and she has done extensive traveling. Sunshine passes on medical information that she knows, reads and things to read that will be of benefit to me with the chronic illnesses I have. I know that she is a blessing not only in my life but also in the life of her caregivers, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Let her be an example of living life positively and not dwelling on the negative.
I want Sunshine to know that she is precious and an inspiration to me to keep on moving, smiling and being kind to others despite their ignorance to our invisible illnesses.
