It’s easy to blame a life-changing illness for ruining your life, but did you ever stop to ask yourself, where you would be without it?
I have!
In a life where I wasn’t diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis at the tender age of 19, where would I be? I can hazard a pretty good guess, and it would be far from pretty! I was on a slippery slope of drinking too much and accepting things from my partner that I shouldn’t have put up with. I was a complete arsehole with my mum and I didn’t care about anyone or anything other than myself.
I went to work all week and spent my time at home hiding out in my bedroom, usually having a drink, and watching TV. The rest of my time was spent in the pub.
I drank too much, smoked too much, took drugs too much, swore too much, and I didn’t give a shit enough.
IBD saved me from myself.
I am strong now because I have been weak before, and I didn’t like it.
I am happy now because I have experienced heart-wrenching sadness before, and I didn’t like it.
I laugh a lot now because I have cried so hard before, and I didn’t like it.
I live each day now because I have been so close to death before, and I didn’t like it.
I am brave now because I have experienced so much hurt before, and I didn’t like it.
I am confident now because I have been so uncomfortable in my own skin before, and I did not like it.
I care a lot now because I have mistreated people and isolated myself before, and I didn’t like it.
I have a lot of love to give now because I used to hate the world before, and I didn’t like it.
I am grateful for every day I have now because I’ve wasted so many before, and guess what, I didn’t like it!
My name is Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford. I swear too much and I give a shit a lot.
Patient Advocacy 