So much like many people do, I like to look back at the year that just passed. I like to look at what went well, what went bad, and what I can improve on going into the following year. Yet, to save everyone from pages and pages of review of my 2015 year, I’m going to stay focused on sports and disease in my life. These are, after all, the topics of my blog. Oh and I may mention a little bit of school, but we will see when I get there. Like usual, I just write as I go, I never plan these things.
Okay so let’s get this thing rolling shall we? Sports wise it was a very exciting year. First of all, I discovered how interesting and challenging soccer can be and became quite hooked. This is the sport that snowballed into this blog, and an obsession I acquired to playing as much as I can. I used to be strictly a hockey guy, but ever since that day of humiliation in the park, that has all changed, and I have found my home between the goal posts. I did try my hand at indoor recreational soccer through my school, and found that I didn’t do so bad as a player. But once I tried to expand to a bigger field at the local fieldhouse, I got destroyed. That’s how I eventually came to decide that my natural instinct was in goalkeeping (which I’ve always had an interest in) and thus began my career as a goalkeeper. And then this blog was born, tying in the disease and sport. We will come back to that.
Disease wise, this was a year of rollercoastering. It started quite sour and bleak looking, as early this year my doctor had informed me that my initial medications were not working, and suggested injections of immunobiologicals (immune system suppressants). After a list of what sounded like disastrous side-effects, a high-cost, and the fact that they were injections, I was scared. But I kept an open mind, asked my doctor loads of questions, and had help from my fiancé. I was just about ready to accept the injections. But the high cost still loomed over my head, and I began searching down paperwork to try and get some help with my drug plan through school. Again, darkness loomed as it looked as though it was going to be almost impossible to fund my needed medication (I think it was something like $1500/month at this point). But then, the clouds parted as the company that provides my medication was doing a pro-bono type of marketing and providing free medication for a select number of people. This was my life saver. I instantly snatched up the opportunity and I began taking Symponi injections roughly a month later.
The thing that is deceptive about medication is that it doesn’t usually work instantly and this was surely the case here as it took about a month to a month and a half to begin working. Slowly but surely, I began regaining my health and combatting symptoms until I got to the point where I am today. In terms of disease, this was probably the high point. And it happened just before the start of school. In all out honesty, this semester was probably the hardest semester so far, both in terms of disease and in terms of work. It was a very lab based semester, with physically demanding labs. The material was tough. And my disease ramped up a little bit with all the stress. More times than I can count, I found myself missing buses, or doubled in pain on the bus hobbling to the bathroom due to my illness. It led me to question my medication, and after many hours of contemplation, decided that there must be a mental aspect to this anxiety and disease onset. This led me to see the school cognitive therapist (a very new experience for me, which I will talk about in a future post, alongside of disease/sport mentality and psych). I wasn’t very open at first, but eventually, I grew more comfortable, began listening, and saw improvements to the point where school wasn’t so scary anymore. I was further humbled by my disease as I signed up for the Accessible Services through school, which allow certain accommodations for students with disease and illness. This was something I didn’t even know existed and at first my pride was stopping me from enrolling. But after I did, I was happy that I didn’t let my pride stop me. During exams, the services were excellent in ensuring that my disease didn’t prevent me from achieving what I could accomplish.
In the end, it was this year that enabled me to conceive the idea of this blog, attempt my hand at something that truly seems impossible, determine a career path (teaching, speaking, and sports), and to realize that my purpose here on Earth may quite well be to help those who have been presented with a situation much like mine, who felt much like I did, however don’t truly know the power locked inside them. This is my goal, this is my purpose, and I will not stop until I am able to help as many individuals as possible. So stay tuned because 2016 will be full of informative posts and information. I have big plans for 2016 with Athletics For Life, and it’s all a matter of getting the ducks lined up in a row. Stay safe tonight, and bring in the New Year with high hopes, big expectations, and even bigger motivation and determination! See you all in 2016!