But with the right combination of treatments, I was able to start up my own business again doing graphic design and build it into a success.  And I’ve even recently (finally) published my first novel.  And I’ve been able to take the lessons learned from my own challenges and successes and use them to help other young adults struggling to make a life for themselves despite having a chronic illness.

It’s easy to look back and reflect on all of those things.  It’s harder looking forward to the future I’ve looked so hard to make for myself and realize it might not be there.  Not for me.  Not for my children.  Not for anyone.

But as I did on my 25th birthday, I must gather my inner strength and believe that there is a future worth looking forward to.  I did it then, and I can do it again, but this time not just for myself but for everyone.

On a lighter note, I got a really awesome birthday card today:

Thank you everyone for the card!  There’s enough cake to go around so everyone take a slice…

… and take a candle and make a wish and a hope for a better future.

(view this post on the Superstruct website)