Could you Do it?

Could you do it?

You stand in judgment of us, telling us that only if we were

Stronger, braver, spoke with doctors, took vitamins, medicines, or simply rested, if we did this, then I would be well.

Could you do it? I want to yell.

Could you fight through pain and hell,

 knowing that the battle will never end, the disease may be a lifelong friend

Knowing the looks you will get from others, knowing you will have to justify your actions to many.

 Could you take the labels of “stress”, “drug seeker”, “lazy” and “weak,” and not believe them?

Could you calmly watch as doctors push medicine that has nearly taken your life, burns yours veins until there are none left, accept the scars and pray that others know they came honestly?

Could you take the meds that damage your liver, depress you, force you into both silence and screams, that hurt you and endure the pain in your friends eyes as they look upon the battle?

Could you wait patiently for days and weeks and months for doctors to figure out what you already know?

Could you hope and pray and live another day, without betraying your secret to others?

Could you smile and say that you are fine?

Could you appear so to the rest of the world?

Can you smile through an 8, and put up a front to 10, all the while listening to judgements of so-called physicians and friends?

Could you watch your sister, husband, friend, child go through this life like this?

If you can, you will be tried, tested, you will walk through fire and through hell.

In the end, friend, you will win this battle- and one day, free from pain, you shall rise, your battle won and begin and live again.