An Embarrassing Moment Reminds Me How Lucky I Am

Lately, I have been pushing myself beyond my limits. While I’m aware of this, I don’t want to miss out on anything. We recently moved, confronted major life events, and have been crazy busy at work. I haven’t been prioritizing my health, and yesterday, it all came to a head.

I was out with a friend and her small child when I felt my body become weak. My legs felt like jelly, I couldn’t carry my bag, and I knew I was headed for trouble. Suddenly, my stomach decided to do its own thing, and I had uncontrollable diarrhea. Can you remember your most embarrassing moment? Well, this was definitely mine.

Side effects of many of the medications to treat myasthenia gravis include stomach upsets, stomach cramps, and other things I sometimes think are worse than the symptoms they are treating. I can take one medication and then need to take five others to counter the negative side effects of the first one.

I had to run across the mall — well, more like waddle, as I couldn’t run — to the bathrooms, where I burst into tears. No one offered to help me or ask if I was OK. People just stared at me and some giggled, but most turned up their noses and pretended I didn’t exist. The cleaning ladies were the only ones who offered to help, bringing me soap and asking if I was OK.

It was awful. I could not have felt worse about myself. I am supposed to be an adult and living a good life, and this happens to me — in public where I had no control. My friend rushed me home, comforted me, and tried her best to make me feel better. I walked into my house where my husband enveloped me in his arms and told me he loved me. He turned on the shower, gave me my privacy, and allowed me space to just be.

Although this is an experience I will not forget in a hurry, it truly reminded me of how lucky I am to have my family and friends. They love me regardless of what my body does or how I look and sound. They love me on my good and bad days. But most of all, they are there to offer support no matter the circumstances. Isn’t it amazing how people come into your life for a reason?

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