The Impossible Dream - Awareness of Lyme's Disease/CFS/ME

[juxtaposer]

     
  


Jackie is a miracle, but Lisa gave us that miracle. She suffers from Lyme's disease which is one of a complex of illnesses a lot in common with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. These are cruel, punishing and unremitting ailments that inflict on the sufferer tremendous challenges. Every day you wake feeling crushed, and it doesn't get any easier thereafter. The exhaustion you start the day with is exacerbated by every menial task and interaction throughout. It is a burden you can't put down: you struggle to be helpful to those who need you, your social world is compromised, you face confusion and misunderstanding from everyone around. Chronic illness brings with it unavoidable battles with depression which you have to will yourself to win. And you must keep winning them. Only prolonged rest and retirement can give even the slightest amelioration, but what mother of four boisterous children can afford that? Much more is demanded of Lisa given the unique situation she and her family are in with the whirlwind career of Jackie and all the other dramas minor and major. The Jackie phenomenon all came out of a mother's desire to inspire and encourage her child. The illness she suffers is no fault of her own. We who are thrilled by Jackie's performances could do well to be more understanding of Lisa's situation, keep her in our thoughts and pray for her well being. 

[jamesn]

juxtaposer, you neglected to mention - something that probably everyone here already knows, but for the record - that David Foster's latest ex also suffers from the disease, which possibly brought it to Lisa's attention as a possibility in her own case. I've also read that Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne also suffers from it.