Overcoming Struggles

With Crohn's disease there comes struggles. Struggles are different to everyone based on how or what you perceive and/or categorize it as. Struggles with Crohn's disease could vary from weight loss, a flare up, and stopping you from living your best life, but what if instead of focusing on these struggles we focus on how we overcome them. Struggles are hard to over come but with the right mindset you can do anything. With a positive mindset comes a positive outcome. Throughout my journey after being diagnosed with Crohn's, there were nothing but struggles hurdling towards me. One after the other kept falling at my feet. It got to the point that after so many bad phone calls from the doctor that as soon as I would hear the phone ring I would go in my room and cry. I had anticipated the worst all the time because that was where my mindset was. Over time, my mindset started to become more and more positive little by little. Sadly, my mindset didn't change until 3 and 1/2 months into the 4 months of suffering. The turning point of my mindset was when the option for surgery came up. May I add that before all of this I was absolutely terrified of the tiniest shot and here I am having multiple blood tests, 2 PICC lines, 2 MRI's, 1 CT Scan, and eventually surgery. One day after I was told that I needed to have surgery no matter what, I kept trying to tell myself and convince myself that that is what would make me better. The transition from such a negative mindset to a positive one wasn't an easy journey, believe me, but the reward mentally was worth it.

It was May 9, 2018 the morning of my surgery where that positive mindset kicked in. Exactly two years ago today, I convinced myself that things will get better and that I will conquer and keep fighting no matter what came in my way. I recovered from the surgery in three days and after that is when my wings opened on my back. I call these wings my warrior wings. From this point on I have done nothing but strive to be better and not let my story define me. My greatest accomplishment is seeing people completely forget that I have this illness because then that means they still see me for me: Kelsey. Not the girl who was deathly skinny, out for 4 months of school, or diagnosed with an illness. People remember me as the person I was before this illness took over my life and that is the greatest blessing I can ask for. The only new word people use to describe me is strong because of my fight, but I don't consider myself strong. Instead, I consider myself jumping over hurdles that are placed purposely in front of me to fall. Isn't that life though? With this positive mindset, I excelled in my sport landing me a spot on varsity and a year later the title of captain along with two other amazing people by my side. With this title I took great honor and pride because I told myself "look at what you can do!" When you see yourself accomplish things you never knew you could before, you build a drive to keep striving to do better. My team did that this year by making school history and winning a state game to move to the second round of states. Not only did I excel in my sport but I also excelled in my academics too. Every marking period, I ended up with first honors and I was invited to join the National Honors Society. Sadly, I was rejected but this year I was eligible to apply again and I am currently waiting for the answer. Even though you get knocked down it doesn't mean you have to stay down. By overcoming these hurdles, I was able to show myself the true strength that I have and how no matter what comes my way, I can come out stronger.

Now that you have heard of me successfully overcoming my struggles and accomplishing great things, it's your turn. Think of one thing that has been holding you back for the longest time with your battle and write it on a piece of paper. Once it is written on a piece of paper crumble it up into a ball just letting all the ink shrink. This is part of letting go of something weighing down on you. Now take that crumpled piece of paper with your struggle on it and try and open it back up. By seeing the wrinkles and maybe rips in the paper, try and think of that paper as your body. You are constantly breaking yourself down and it is hard to rebuild, but unlike paper, there isn't more than one of the same kind of you. You are unique and it is time to repair that crumpled piece of paper.