When I was in seventh grade I was diagnosed with a disease called Rheumatic Fever. Rheumatic Fever is a an inflammatory disease caused from inadequately treated strep throat or scarlet fever; with fewer than 20,000 cases in the United States yearly. Luckily, my doctors stopped the spread of my disease quickly however the effects of it will last a lifetime.

As a child I could not understand why my body betrayed me. I felt normal inside yet everyone treated me like I was sick. Now, looking back at the memory I know my family and doctors did everything right to treat and protect me. However, a child's perspective is much different. It is almost eight years later and I am healthy even though Rheumatic Fever can never fully disappear. Nevertheless, my childhood perspective of Rheumatic Fever shaped my entire life. I am who I am now because of this memory. Here is 4 things growing up with Rheumatic fever taught me:

1. Rheumatic fever taught me to live life to the fullest.

I was taught at a young age that your life can change in an instant. Everyone and everything you love could just disappear in a blink of an eye. Rheumatic Fever made me see the good in every situation, to never pass up an opportunity, to chase your dreams no matter how impossible they may seem. Because you never know when your last moments are.

2. Rheumatic fever taught me to be strong.

Some days I would sit in my bed and think why would God put me through something like this. I eventually realized because of this disease I became stronger. I had to fight to heal, I had to fight to feel normal, I had to fight to have my body back. Because of this disease I now feel like I can accomplish anything.

3. Rheumatic fever has taught me about different perspectives.

If I never told you I had a disease you would never know. A lot of people do not understand that a person can have a sickness without it being noticeable. My experience has made me realize that you may not know what someone is going through just from looking from the outside.

4. Rheumatic Fever taught me about what I want to pursue a career in.

I made a lot of trips to doctors offices while I was younger. However, I always looked forward to going to the neurologist. Without having rheumatic fever I would of never uncovered my passion of understanding the brain. I discovered I wanted to pursue a degree in psychology to become a neuropsychology to help children and adults who have a neurological disease like I do.

Rheumatic Fever has been apart of my life for almost eight years now and will effect me for the rest of my life. However, I would not be who I am today without it. This has made me stronger and tougher and for that I will forever be grateful. No matter what happens in life remember that God has a plan and good will always come from the bad.