source: The Mighty

year: 2016

authors: Noelle Wands

To be completely honest, I have no idea how to introduce myself or the disorders and conditions I deal with on a day to day basis. It can be challenging for anyone, myself included, regardless of the condition, disorder, or disease, to primarily categorize themselves upon first introduction.

Do I say, “I suffer from…” or “I have to deal with…” or even something sassy to illicit a laugh when explaining a potentially life-threatening condition? I feel as though my vernacular doesn’t quite grasp the message I intend to get across. I do suffer from, thrive because of, have learned empathy from, been beaten down from, and am partially defined by my multiple conditions. I am a lucky survivor of type 1 diabetes of nearly 16 years, celiac disease, familial adenomatous polyposis and am only 20 years old (with no complications).