How things change, but really stay the same

I looked at this blog today and realized it had been some time since I had posted. 4 months can change someone's life quite a bit. Since I last blogged I have had some major life events happen. It appears that, in some respects, I may be traveling the same road that my Mother did. In 1995 my mother was diagnosed with the autoimmune liver disease PBC (primary biliary cirrhosis). It appears that I now have this disease as well. Probably have had it for a few years. I am undergoing tests to determine how advanced the disease is and begin my treatement. On the up side, my mother did quite well with her treatment, once the meds were lined out, and I hope to do that as well. My only concern is that that as I look back at her health and what happened to her in those later years, I see many similarities to autoimmune disease in general. The doctors even said they thought she had something autoimmune going on, but weren't exactly sure what. My mind goes back to all those doctor visits and trying to glean something from what she was told then. I pray that my disease path, whatever that was related to autoimmune and her, isn't as bad as hers. She did well with the liver disease, or so I thought. Much of what happened to her later, attributed to other things she had going on, may have been part of her liver disorder. Nobody followed it too closely, to be honest, because she had such other issues they figured she wouldn't live long enough to go into full on cirrhosis. They were right about that, after all. My mother always thought that her diseases (plural for sure) were a way for her to minister to others and show that no matter what happened to her she never lost her faith. I know God gives us things to deal with that will not only grow us up but help others in the process. For, what are we here on earth for in the first place, if not to help each other and spread the word about Him. My aunt, my Dad's last sister and last sibling living, is fighting cancer as well. She isn't winning at this point and that may be another hard thing to deal with. My heart has always told me that it was "when" not "if" I would begin to have health issues. So, it begins. I pray that whatever I have in store for me will be used for the good of those around me and help others in my situation. I don't have children, so I need to pass on something. I am glad that disease is not one of those things and I actually feel grateful that I was not blessed with children. Whatever this hereditary disease path is, it must stop here.