We all have
a story. Every single one of us, whether we write about it or not. My fictional
stories are inspired by real-life events, experiences and perceptions, albeit
with a little paranormal twist… hey, I like to liven things up a little bit! A
big part of my personal story is my health. I am generally a very healthy and
happy thirty-five-year-old woman. I have had two successful pregnancies with
very minor complications during labour. But I have been in and out of hospital
for all my life.
I have a
rare genetic disorder called Lymphedema
Distichiasis. Yep, you can’t even pronounce it, can you? I had to practice
a little when the diagnosis officially came several years ago. Basically, it
means that I have a recessive gene, called the FOXC2 gene. It means that my body produces anomalies. For me those anomalies
include a double row of eyelashes in both eyes. My eyelashes grow on the inside
of the eyelid, and they turn in so that they scratch my corneas. I have severe
scarring in both eyes, and I have routine minor surgery procedures to have the
extra eyelashes removed using lasers. In between hospital visits, I pluck the
offending eyelashes out with tweezers. Not pleasant. It is very painful and
can be very debilitating, but I am not the sort of person to let that get in my
way.
You see,
that is my story. One author, one rare genetic eye disorder. It could have
caused me to give up my job, my ability to drive, even my independence, because
it got so bad at one point. But I refused to submit to the pain and the
discomfort. Instead I sought alternative methods of healing, which brought me
to my current training in Reiki. That is a higher vibrational energy healing
system that we can all tap into, and I find it incredibly helpful for my health
condition. It will also find its way into my stories, and has even inspired me
to plan some non-fiction books based on my experiences.
What are
your life experiences, health or otherwise? How do they inspire and inform your
career choices, your hobbies, your way of life?
Did you enjoy
this article? Join my tribe today, and I will send you a fabulous FREE book to get
you started… (be warned, my vampires do not sparkle, and my wolves will
bite!)
