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Tuesday, September 19, 2017

What My Chronic Illness Gave My Children

“Mommy, let’s skip to the car,” my 7-year-old son says.
Grabbing his small hand on one side, and my 5-year-old daughter on the other, we make a chain as we skipped from the store doors to our car, laughing all the way. This was a regular occurrence for us. We felt free and united.
And then my body stopped working. 

Raising children while living with chronic illness

In 2004, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) right before my son turned 8 and my daughter 6. As my daughter sat on my lap and asked, “Why are your fingers so big?” I worried about what type of mother I was going to become and what type of long-term effects my disease would have on them.
Raising two children while dealing with a chronic illness has required patience, honesty, vulnerability, and the ability to honor the very people they have always been. Right from the beginning, the character of each child came out in their own unique way to support and love me.


Cathy with Children

Read the rest of the article and discover the amazing people my children are as young adults. 

2 comments:

  1. Cathy, the kids profiles are amazing. I am certain they are as cool as their mom and dad. I know our sons are as cool as their mom. But their dad? Well, he is a goofy all in all. :)

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    1. They are way cooler than I ever dreamed of being Rick. Thanks for reading.

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