If there is anyone who taught me how to be strong in dealing with chronic pain it is my grandpa. For a few years now my grandpa has been suffering from an illness called Scleroderma. Scleroderma is caused by too much collagen in the body rather than EDS, which is caused by lack thereof. There is currently no known cure for Scleroderma, and while there are ways to try to slow it down, there is nothing doctors can do about the progression of the type of Scleroderma my grandpa has. Everyday my grandpa has dealt with more and more hardening throughout his body. Like me, he deals with chronic pain, his pain being a lot worse than mine. Although his body is giving up on him, you would never know it. I have never seen a person so determined to continue to live life in dealing with such a terrible illness. Although his hands hurt and are hard to use, he continues to go to work every single day. Although it probably hurts him to talk, whenever I call him he always answers his phone. And although he could choose to sit at home or a hospital all day, he pushes through so he can live life. The way I watch him perservere is motivation from someone like me dealing with a chronic illness to even get out of bed everyday. My grandpa is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. When he was just a young boy he came from Italy to America to make a life for himself and for his family. He worked hard so that he could live a better life, and he's not giving any of that up just because he is sick. I want to live with EDS like I have watched my grandpa live with Scleroderma. I want to enjoy life as much as I am able to. I want to continue to pursue things I am passionate about even when dealing with pain. I don't want to let my illness own me, define me, or hold me back. My grandpa is now dealing with some of the worst affects of his disease. Each day his body loses more ability to function, but I know that through this he will never give up. I cherish each day that I get to see him perservere. I know that he wishes he could do so much more, but to me what he does already is more than inspiring. Because of my grandpa I am reminded each day that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13. I am forever grateful for the determined, hard working person that my grandpa is, and he will continue to be on my heart everyday no matter what happens. I love you, grandpa.
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." -Romans 5:3-5
If you would like to learn more about Scleroderma please visit http://www.scleroderma.org