Ta-Da! Here I am + Mission Statement

Hello!

     In case you haven't figured out, my name isn't "Melissa," but here I will refer to myself by that name for privacy's sake.  I wish I had started this magical online-sharing diary when everything started this past summer, but now is as good of a time as any.  :-)  

      As it says in the side bar there, I started writing this blog with two goals in mind.  The first came from my seeing a need in my own life to record and follow the symptoms of my disease carefully for practical and emotional reasons - so here is my feeble attempt at record keeping!  Ta-Da!  This is for my own good.  

     The second reason is much less selfish: I write here to tell others about what I'm going through.  Many people have heard that I am not well, or seem to recall me being out-of-whack all summer or a little slow at the beginning of the school year - but how many people actually know how I'm doing now?  The answer - 0.  Some of you are clued in, others guess, and still more ask... but it would be impossible for me to tell each and every one of you how I'm doing, largely because it changes on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis. This is to inform you because you deserve to know.  

     The reason I try not to post about this kind of thing on Facebook is because it's very personal to me and I don't need the whole world knowing what I'm going through - I just need you.   This is not a place for my sappy loved-ones to drool all over with sympathy, or for doctor wannabe's to plaster me with labels and diagnoses.  Just give me a hug next time you see me, or send me legitimate health articles with helpful information.  This is for my own good.  This is to inform you.  

     If you know someone else who's struggling with misdiagnosis or illusive illnesses, please connect us so they may get some hope from this shared diary - they are not alone in their pain and I hope to bring them comfort.  If you think of someone else who deserves to know, please contact me via e-mail to comment or make suggestions.  Thank you for coming on this journey with me.  I crave your prayers.

All my love,

~Melissa