Leukoclastic Vasculitis

Hardship and misfortune empowers individuals to grow and change throughout their lives, and I believe that everyone has endured a significant event that has the power to influence his or her perspective and disposition on life. Accordingly, one of the most powerful circumstances I have endured is transpiring now: my mother’s diagnosis of Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis. This disorder is an autoimmune disorder that ruins my mother’s chances of combating a variety illnesses, specifically her current battle with a bone infection. Recently, I discovered that disability has a way of drastically changing the perspective of those it touches, and in my case, it has caused me to become a more serving and more patient individual. However, for my mother, this illness has caused her to become a mere shell of what she was before. My mother
loved her life as a caregiver and social worker, but now she lives inside, not able to venture outside considering a large crowd at the local Wal-Mart could harbor a common cold. Therefore, this disease changed our way of life completely. Before, I never received a flu vaccine, but now I welcome Vitamin C tablets to defer simple sicknesses. My mother’s disorder has caused me to realize that every one of my actions has the power to affect the quality and way of life of someone else, my mother in this case.
My mother’s journey began with a simple case of pneumonia. However, one day she became dizzy in the kitchen, fell to the floor, and broke two bones in her leg and ankle. Her inability to fight an infection after her surgery was one of the most significant alerts to the doctors. Other symptoms included exhaustion, depression, anxiety, and mood swings. In times of illness and confusion, we might not always understand why a loved one must suffer, and I relate to the bewilderment felt by many others who observe the sickness and decline of another. My mother has always cared for me whether it was a common cold or a heart disorder, but now I have had to become the caregiver of my parent, which is a position I feel no child should have to assume. I cannot understand why or how my mother’s illness came to be, but I have begun to learn lessons that will benefit me throughout life.
Consequently, seeing my mother in the pain she is in has opened my eyes to a new world: a world without a cure.
Discussions with doctors have often lead to medical jargon involving the word “remission.” This word symbolizes a lifelong struggle for my mother, and it is far from easy witnessing her endure pain that causes her to lose sleep and the mental effects of losing all independence. Nevertheless, this witness has not only caused me to grow in my faith but also my character. With it, I have learned a greater degree of patience, compassion, and understanding. I bring this to all environments I encounter, whether that be my school, church, or job. My goal is to impact those I come across with the lessons that I have learned and to aid those suffering in their life as well. With that, I am still growing, but I am grateful for the lessons I have learned through my mother’s struggle with her disease. It has impacted every area of my life, and although I wish my mother did not have to experience the pain she is in, I am glad that I may be able to help those who may struggle in the future with the skills I learned and the personal growth I
achieved.