When we find ourselves going through the motions, what feels like moving through fog or mud, just trying to survive each day, it can be really difficult to hold onto hope. We may feel overwhelmed by grief, loss, significant changes, or our own physical symptoms. Perhaps we feel better emotionally when battling worse symptoms, but the second the symptoms improve, our grief begins to bubble up- forcing us to process additional medical trauma or experiences we couldn’t process previously. Or, perhaps we find ourselves navigating these difficult emotions and experiences daily, just hoping for someone to put out their hand, to lift us up, to give us a warm hug, tell us that we are doing an amazing job, that they love us, that they are proud of us.

Although we can’t be there with you, giving you a warm hug, holding your hand, or physically lifting you up, we hope that we can lift you up in other ways through our words, through this page, as you read through. As these are not just words to us, and instead have served us as survival guides. What we share with you are words that have helped us through some of our darkest and most difficult moments as well, helping us see the light at the end of a very dark and challenging tunnel. This is not from a book, or from assumed experiences, but rather from pain that shaped us, molded us, and inspired us to help others. We can’t fairly say that we know exactly how you feel right now, or understand exactly what you are going through and why you are looking for more reasons to remain hopeful, but we can say that we have all experienced moments when we desperately needed to grasp onto a glimmer of hope, something to help us keep moving forward as best as we possibly could. And we will also say that there are so many reasons to remain hopeful, as difficult as it may be to see right now.

You are courageous!

There is light at the end of this tunnel.

You are not responsible for how others perceive you.

You have gotten through 100% of your most challenging days.

You are doing an amazing job juggling everything on your plate.

You are part of a community that will continue to fight for what you deserve.

Your definition of what it means to live meaningfully is the only one that truly matters.

Channel your grief, anger, and sadness into anything that motivates you to keep fighting.

We can experience pain when healing, and it takes time, but look at how far you have come.

All of us learn, grow, and heal at our own pace. Offer yourself kindness if possible, life isn’t a race.

You still have a purpose, one that is as infinitely valuable as it was prior to your journey with illness.

You don’t need to know how you will make it through tomorrow- it’s ok to just focus on this moment.

Their unwillingness to acknowledge you and your illness doesn’t mean you are less worthy of support.

There is beauty in taking your pain and channeling it into outlets that inspire growth and positive change.

You have climbed and conquered so many mountains behind you- look at how far you have come.

These difficult moments don’t define who you are, who you want to be, and who you will become.

There are many who don’t understand and may never understand. And there are many who do.

Your story and daily fight will serve as a survival guide that may change someone’s life.

This is not your fault. We believe in you. You are not worth less because of your illness.

You are not your illness and your illness does not define who you are.

We are not defined by the difficult moments we experience.

You are powerful, priceless, and beautiful.

This is not the end of your journey.

What if tomorrow is a better day?