A Warrior's Guide to Battling Illness

LESSON FIVE

I had dealt with Lupus for about fifteen years when my wife noticed an advertisement in the paper that a representative from one of the area hospitals was going to visit and talk about Lupus to anyone interested. She suggested that I go to see if there had been any new advancements in the diagnosis or treatment. Since my plans for the day was to mow the yard, I too thought that was a good idea. When I arrived, there were the usual participants. Mainly women in their late 20’s to early 40’s with a young woman at the front of the room quietly juggling papers and going through the motions of acting busy until it was time to start. I tried to blend into the seats as not to be noticed. When it was time to start she introduced herself and launched into a recantation of the symptoms and treatments.

As she tried to talk with an enthusiasm that was not in her I listened to the same things I had that had heard so many years ago. My interest soon changed from the speaker to the audience. I soon noticed an older women setting with what I presumed was her husband. She was listening intently but seem to become more concerned as the presentation went on and she learned there was real no cure for her disease. At the end of the presentation our host opened the floor to questions. There were a few, and when she finished answering she suggested that we break up into small groups.

I was drawn to the older women and walked over and sat down at her table. I introduced myself and asked how long she had had Lupus. She said she had just been diagnosed. As we talked, she gave me the impression that she felt her life was over. When I asked her what she was passionate about. From the look on her face I could tell that she had taken exception to the question., as if I had crossed the line of decency. I knew that I must ask the question in a less intrusive manner. So I ask what was it that she liked to do. Being coxed by her husband she finally admitted that she loved music and played the piano.

So I suggested that she start teaching piano. She did not hesitate and said she often times did not fell well enough to teach. I told her it did not matter, that I had taught karate for years and I had always been honest with my students about my health. They understood and did not have a problem with missing a lesson. That it was not important that she may not be able to teach every day, but she was doing something she loved to do and was sharing it with others.

This brings us to the physical part of lesson five an upper block.