For over this past year, almost the last two I was chronically ill. I had a motility disorder in my stomach, for those of you who are not familiar with that term it basically means I just could not digest my food. For longer than a year everything I tried to eat it came right back up. I suffered from a tremendous amount of pain and weight loss. We had went from hospital to hospital, five total, getting so many different diagnosis and went through so many procedures that did more harm than good. The last hospital we had went to was amazing. When coming there the first thing they wanted to do was give me a feeding tube, I had lost a huge amount of weight and was extremely malnourished. I had absolutely no potassium in my body, they were amazed that my heart was still even beating. Since I could not digest food they had to put the tube past my stomach into my jejunum which made for more difficult placement. I had to have the tube for two months before I could for-take any treatment because i was not healthy enough for it to be successful. After those two long months I was admitted to the hospital for a two week long treatment which was successful and now after the long fight, I am healthier than I have ever been both mentally and physically. I was truly blessed by the doctors I found and have never been more thankful for being so healthy.

Regardless of names of medicines and what they do and tons of big medical terms going from hospital to hospital, meeting so many people, I learned a lot of other things to. I met people and saw things that completely touched and changed my life, as unfortunate as being so sick was I can only look at the positive side of it, for it was a tough fight and experience, it still an experience. Being sick changed my perspective on a whole lot of things, for the better. Here are some of the bigger things I had heard my whole life but just really learned:

1. Never take everyday life things for granted

In this time I had suffered months without food and without having to take over an hour of pain and agony while it came right back up after eating. Being still as a kid before I got sick, food was a part of everyday life something I never felt blessed to have and eat but after months of not eating and just wanting to savior every bite of food I now realize we don't look at these things such as food as big but they are and we should be so grateful. Some kids with other illnesses that have permanent feeding tubes will never be able to take a bite and taste all the goodness. They may be full yes but that does not even compare to the feeling of how it tastes and does not take all the cravings away. Be grateful for the home you have as well and the bed you get to sleep in every night. No matter how big the house is or how nice the bed is, some people are stuck in the hospitals for years even on the holidays, some even the majority of their lives sleeping in hospital beds. Not only the sick kids but the less fortunate kids as well, there are people all over the world without food and homes and even education. So many kids say how terrible school is but even if you complain every once in a while make sure to be grateful too, there are so many kids around the world that are not given the opportunity of an education, they never learn how to read, write, or even the basic arithmetic let alone given the opportunity to go to college and do things such as save peoples lives and make medical discoveries. Be thankful for everything you have and are offered everyday because even if it doesn't seem like much to you to someone else it seems like the world. Someone will always have it better, but remember someone will always have it worse.

2. Cherish your health

Take care of yourself as much as possible, exercise, eat right, and build up your immune system. Your mental health just as well as physical. For all those athletes cherish the fact that you can do all these things without a problem. If you are not healthy, it limits you to very slim things in your life that you can do. Some people's good health is taken right away from them when getting serious illnesses and unfortunately some never get it back. Prevent illness in any way you can. When I was at my worst I could no longer walk for very long without passing out and was starting to loose the ability of moving my fingers and sometimes even my legs making it hard to even pick up things and type/text and walk at all. Even as unhealthy as I was my health looked great compared to a lot of other ill kids in just the slim amount of hospitals I had visited. Things like school, sports, work and etc. matter but never forget to take care of yourself as much as you can and always cherish your health, it is so much more important.

3. Appreciate the people in your life

Through my illness, the one thing that got me through is my family and friends. I could have never imagined getting through it without them. My mom being my biggest supporter in my life and she was by my side through every bit of it. She made sure my health was her biggest priority by putting me before work and even before herself. She was the one who took me from doctor to doctor, the one who constantly reminded me I was going to be okay, she slept on the couch or recliner in every hospital for countless nights never once leaving my side regardless of how moody I got. My best friends being there with endless support and love, coming to several procedures and holding my hand through the whole thing. They missed out on things just because I wasn't able to do them. Praying for me every chance they got and no matter how scared they were always giving me reassurance. The rest of my family and friends helping in every way they could, I was always surrounded with constant love and support and it got me through. The volunteers at the hospitals always coming around putting out another hand to make you smile and help you through. Volunteers that stayed with the sick kids that didn't have parents that could be there or just wasn't. The doctors and every other person that worked in the hospital dedicating their time and all the money that went into medical school just to help you. Every person you meet is a blessing in some way, cherish every person that comes and goes in your life and especially the ones who stay. Show them and tell them how much you appreciate them as often as you can because you never know when the last time you see them is. Spread and offer love to everyone you can because everyone can always use some even if its just the simplest act of kindness, there's never enough love in this world.

4. Don't judge

Some people's lives may seem perfect, but everyone has their battles and issues. Lift everyone up as much as you can instead of putting them down. You never truly know what is really happening under the surface regardless of what you see. I had so many people judge me by things they had no clue about and saying very hurtful things which made it only harder. Every one has their reasons and their stories, don't judge.

5. Live life to the fullest and never take a day for granted

Do everything in your power to live life to the fullest. Fall in love with life and take every opportunity you get. Pursue a life in doing something that sets your soul on fire. Look at every experience good or bad as a positive thing because regardless you learn something from it. Learn something every chance you get, talk and teach but listen as well. Don't constantly live life in fear but instead in hope because it is the one thing that is stronger. Love with everything you have and always go out of your way to comply in any act of kindness. Try to conquer every obstacle you are faced with and if it knocks you down several times get right back up until you do conquer it and if you need help to do so don't be too afraid to ask because it doesn't make you weak. Don't live your live in spite, anger and bitterness because life is incredibly way too short and way too good to be bitter. Seeing all the severely injured or gravely ill kids, some that had been in car wrecks and so quickly lost their ability to speak, walk, and do any of our everyday things, some who out of the blue became so ill they only had a numbered of days left and for those who one day they would be too sick to get out of the hospital and experience things made me realize how incredibly lucky I am even when I was sick. As scary as it is life could be taken from you at any given moment, so live life to the fullest and love those who live it with us. Instead of dwelling on the test you have to take or that heartbreak you suffered, be thankful you are alive and well to experience these things. If one day some unfortunate thing happened leaving me severely ill or injured or dead I would want to know I lived my life to the fullest, full of love and hope and laughter, I would want to know I touched one or several lives and that I grabbed every experience and opportunity offered. Every day we are offered on this earth is a blessing so never take a day for granted.