Kara’s Story

Hi, I'm Kara. I've been chronically ill from pretty much birth (low heart rate and emergency c section). For years, doctors have called me lazy or simply reduced me to over the counter pain meds and "just lose weight". Once I turned 18, I began to raise hell to finally get answers to my issues. As a kid, I was diagnosed with hypothyroid. Then came pre-diabetes, then fatty liver, kidney disease etc. A couple years ago now, I finally got diagnosed with Thalassemia (rare genetic blood disease that makes my RBCs deformed and can't carry oxygen and iron builds up in my blood). Any time I mention it to a new doctor for my history, they say I'm lying because it is barely heard of outside of the Mediterranean area. Every day is a struggle to even wake up or fall asleep, let alone the long periods of standing and heavy lifting for work. I try not to make a huge deal about my conditions because people look at me different if they know I'm sick or in pain. After a while, it takes a toll on my mental health because I shouldn't have to smile through the pain to the point of being unable to stand or be far from a bathroom. I guess my point is in sharing this is to let others know they aren't alone. Unfortunately I've come to a sad truth, no one will truly understand chronic illness unless they too are chronically ill.