My battle with chronic pain is an issue I’ve rarely written about. It’s always been a private issue that I’ve been reluctant to share for a variety of reasons. But recently, I believe God has been leading me to share my pain so that it can encourage and bring hope to someone else.
Last week, my first, in-depth article on the subject appeared on The Mighty, a fabulous site of support for those with chronic illness and their loved ones. Head on over there to read the rest of my post and to be inspired by so many other amazing stories over there.
by Melinda Means
We looked like any other couple. My husband and I.
There we were, sitting at a restaurant this past Valentine’s Day, just like millions of other couples. But we weren’t looking deeply into each other’s eyes. Or, whispering sweet nothings across the table. In fact, I was forcing myself to be there at all.
My reluctance had nothing to do with my sweet husband. No. I was in pain. But I was not going to surrender to my disease. It was not going to ruin yet another happy event in my life. Even if it meant I had to pretend to have a good time and cry most of the way home.
This unseen, unwelcome party crasher made its first appearance at the most vulnerable, joyful time in my life. I had just given birth to my first child. But I barely had time to hold my precious baby girl before the pain and torment began. In the same hospital room where I’d just been given one of my greatest gifts, an invisible thief known as Interstitial Cystitis began to take so much from me.
