When I started this blog I started it as an emotional output for myself. I was in a really tough place. I had called off my first wedding because I was with a boy who wasn't ready to marry a "sick girl". I was starting to get to be the sickest I had ever been. I was really lost emotionally and struggling physically. I had gone through some other pretty significant life events around that time too and decided I just really wanted to focus on getting healthy. I love writing, I always have, so I decided I could write a blog. I could write for myself and my family. I figured at least my mom would read it since I know she will support just about anything I do. (Thanks mom!) All of a sudden other people in my family were reading it and my mom was sharing it on Facebook and her friends were reading it. People from my CRPS support groups began reading it and as of a few months ago, when I last checked, I had about 12,000 views! I was blown away. I know that is nothing compared to people who write and have that many daily, but for having just started by writing for myself, I am just so blown-away!
Over the last year or so that I have seen my blog really reach people, I have really began writing this for other people. I have had a few people reach out to both my mom and me just in the last month about people who they know that have CRPS and asked us if we would be a resource for them. We love that. We love that we can be a resource for people who have to go through this journey. We love that my blog has made people more aware of this disease and how awful and serious it is. This is why I do what I do. Reaching other people is my goal in all of this. I want to be a "go-to" person for anyone who needs support, an advocate, or a resource during this journey.
The best, most helpful thing for me was when I could put another face to this illness. It made me feel, instantly, not so alone in this whole thing. So if I can be that for someone because of this blog reaching people, that makes me so happy. Awareness is key to this illness being more recognized, diagnosed, and to a cure being discovered!