The day before her 11th birthday, my daughter was diagnosed with a chronic illness. Since a child, she has dealt with a chronic condition, and often experiences debilitating symptoms. Certainly her life has been good, but her childhood has looked different than most kids’…because everything changes when you’re sick.

Chronic illness isn’t for wimps! That’s established. But when everything changes in your life due to a diagnosis, you can either choose to be brave or you can choose to let symptoms control you and your life. How you live with chronic illness is a choice.

That’s why my daughter is my hero! Here’s why:

• She lives courageously! Whether it’s summoning up the strength to make it to school, to face another medical appointment or to use her creative gifts, she does it with courage. She knows her limits, yet she pushes her boundaries to have the life she wants. She doesn’t quit on life when it gets difficult or even overwhelming. Every good day is used to its full (to say, go to school or even visit Disney World), and every bad day is an opportunity to regain her strength (and perhaps to check in on the latest adds to Netflix).
• She acts bravely! Though she is sick, her actions toward others rarely reflect a sense of self. She reaches out to friends in need, serves her community and stretches herself in order to provide for others. Right now my daughter is coming alongside a pregnant friend, volunteering every weekend at church and training for a half-marathon to raise money for Hope Water Project to provide clean water for the Pokot tribe of Kenya. And none of these things were my idea! She is putting aside (or working through) her own chronic pain and illness to make a difference in others’ lives!
• She embodies strength! Sometimes, for someone with chronic illness, strength is conquering your fears. But sometimes strength is just getting out of bed. I have seen my daughter display strength in both situations! If you know what it’s like to live with chronic illness, then you know what it’s like to be afraid. Afraid of not being able to function. Afraid others won’t understand your limitations. Afraid a good day will quickly turn to bad. I’ve seen my daughter manage her fear and embody strength simply by dealing with each moment as it comes.

That’s why my chronically ill daughter is my hero…because she is uncommonly brave!