By Kiara Tatum
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| Kiara and niece being silly |
I was reading a youth worker journal article, and the topic was
identity. I haven’t seen it yet, but the
article was referring to the movie, “Fault in Our Stars.” The movie follows the
growing friendship of Hazel, who is diagnosed with cancer, who meets Augustus, also
diagnosed with cancer, at a support group meeting. Augustus asks Hazel, “So what’s your story?” She proceeds to tell him about when she was
diagnose with her cancer. But he interrupts
her and says, “No, not your cancer story, but your real story.”
That statement made me think about how I defined myself
since diagnosed with PH eight years ago.
I was someone before I was sick, and I built friendships, had hobbies,
and participated in activities that didn’t revolve around PH. Sometimes we are so focused on our PH
diagnosis and that PH journey that we forget that we are much more than
that. How I identify myself is important
when sharing my story with others. Do I
start with I was diagnosed with PH in March 2006 after years of knowing that
something was wrong with me. Or do I start
with: My name is Kiara, and I like to be silly and have fun. I love to watch the ID Channel, sing songs
out of nowhere, laugh and smile a lot. I
love the Lord because He loves me and He has brought me through such hard times
such as these that I want to show that love to others, so they too will know
who the Lord is through my actions which is easier said than done.
So you see I’m more than just a girl diagnosed with PH at
the age of 26 who had to leave her job because she wasn’t able to continue to
work. I’m more than that, and so are
you. You are more than a diagnosis that
your doctor gave you, and you are more than this disease that wants to destroy
every part of you. We are PHighters, we
are survivors, we are warriors, and we are strong. And we should not let ourselves be defined by
our disease any more.
I love to listen to music from alternative to country to pop
to r&b; I love to laugh and smile; I love to spend time with my family; I’m
an aunt, I’m a sister, and I’m a daughter.
I sometimes get mad for no other reason than I woke up that way and will
probably stay that way for a few hours; don’t take it personal. I’m terrified of spiders, and I love to work
with youth. So that’s a little bit about
me. So what’s your story? Not your PH story, but your real story?
Wow ... that's a Powerful Real Story....Thank you sooooo much for sharing from your wisdom ... and I'm 74 and I'm still learning what you already know.
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