We all have our cross to bear.

While on the Camino we saw a group of monks walking. They were

dressed in their normal monk robes, which had to be hot, and one of them was carrying a cross. 

The cross looked to be the same size Jesus would have carried. 

I found myself deeply moved by this. I am not sure exactly how to put it into words. 

There is a cross on the top of this rock.
Reminds me that we all have our
cross to bear, only sometimes its hard for
others to see. 

The fact that there were these men,  walking the Camino as the early pilgrims did carrying the cross as Jesus did for us.  It occurred to me that I should not complain about the heat, or my feet or anything else for that matter. It put things in perspective. 

We all have our cross to bear in this life. Some crosses are more visible than others. Like the photo to the right. At first you don't see the cross. In fact you really have to look hard to see it. But it is there none the less.  There are so many people in this world that carry the cross of "invisible illness". People who are sick, but you wouldn't know just by looking at them.  There are many causes for this. Some are Lupus, Fibromyalgia and Hepatitis C. 

I wanted to share that I am one of those many people who live with a chronic disease.  I felt it was important to share. Partly to help explain the gaps in my 'training' but more importantly that maybe I can be some inspiration to another out there who battles their invisible illness. 

Let me start with a bit of a back history on my illness. I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 1994. So basically I have been dealing with this for 22 years. Wow, that does seem like a long time. I have gone through numerous "trial studies" for treatments with no success.  Each treatment seemed worse than the last. Finally I decided I would just go ahead and live my life, what ever I had left, the way I wanted to live. I would eat heathy, be active and if I wanted a drink I would drink.  As time passed there was major breakthroughs on the medicine for Hep C and they finally found a cure! That was pretty exciting stuff. I had a talk with my doctors and to make a long story short,  I was able to get on this new medication.  The treatment is simple, 1 pill a day for twelve weeks.  The common side effects or headaches and tiredness. So I decided to give it a shot. 

I began my treatment July 12, the day after returning from Italy.  The first week was rougher than I thought it would be.  Most of the week I spent resting or being in bed.  My whole body hurt, not just my head.  As the week went on this seem to be getting better. 

Today I find myself feeling almost normal again and wanting to get back to walking and my training. 

I do know that I might not be able to train as I did while not on treatment, but I hope I can keep my fitness level up. 

I will say that even though I do have days that are rough and hard to get through. Times when I have no energy.  However I know that there are many others who struggle more than I do. It is for those those people I do my camino for. To walk for those who can't. To pray for those that struggle with health issues.  I am determined to not let Hepatitis define who I am.  Perhaps that is why on those days I struggle with lack of energy or pain,  I sometimes have those moments when I fear the worst. 

I am working on not letting those demons fill my head.  One way I find that helps is to walk. 

So I walk.................

I have started a blog about my treatment.  It is just a journal about what I feel and how it goes. Along with a history of my illness.  If you are interested you can find it at https://crazytimelifwithhepc.blogspot.com.


Buen Camino and Don't Stop Walking!