 Opening the email, I stopped, stared – and screamed. 'Mum!' I yelled, wheeling into the kitchen. 'Does this really say I've been shortlisted for The Diversity Awards?' She jumped to her feet and read it over my shoulder. 'Yes!' she whooped. We both squealed in delight, then burst out laughing. I was stunned and completely overwhelmed. It showed I was making a difference by helping other people. Having an impact on the world. And to someone aged 28 with a life-limiting condition, it meant so much to me. Growing up, my health was never wonderful. I was hypermobile and suffered from IBS, urinary tract infections and unexplained aches and pains that were put down to growing pains. It was only when I started passing out regularly at school aged 14, that I was eventually diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS. It's when your heart rate increases on changing position, like sitting to standing, and makes you likely to faint. Since it's usually caused by other medical conditions, doctors did various tests and eventually, in December 2015, aged 20, I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). I've spent the past eight years in and out of hospitals (Picture: Ruth Spurr) EDS is a complicated condition that affects the connective tissues in my body, which can affect people's joints. I get a lot of pain. But in my case, it has also affected my internal organs, including my bladder and bowel. I also have Addison's Disease, which doctors don't know is connected to my EDS or whether I'm simply that unlucky. That has given me osteoporosis, which affects my mobility and means I am on steroids permanently, which suppresses my immune system. Simple infections like coughs and colds can spread easily and become extremely serious. While none of my conditions are terminal, they can be life-th){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Opening the email, I stopped, stared – and screamed.
‘Mum!’ I yelled, wheeling into the kitchen. ‘Does this really say I’ve been shortlisted for The Diversity Awards?’
She jumped to her feet and read it over my shoulder. ‘Yes!’ she whooped. We both squealed in delight, then burst out laughing.
I was stunned and completely overwhelmed. It showed I was making a difference by helping other people. Having an impact on the world.