Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week

Last week on the 16th I turned 34 years old. I feel so blessed to be relatively healthy (so to speak) for this birthday. I have been feeling well enough that I haven't really stopped to write here lately. Birthdays are such a special time for me because I am so thankful to be here, to be alive and to be thriving despite living with mitochondrial disease. Not to say that I don't have plenty of days when I feel awful and the reality of mito is in my face, but just that I am living in spite of all that mito has taken from me. I just hope and pray that I am able to continue on this road finding success despite this awful disease, that I can spend many more years with my son, my family and my friends and find peace in whatever life has in store for me. I am thankful for every birthday I have the opportunity to celebrate because I know that each minute, day, week, month, year of this life is a blessing.

Yesterday was an International Day of Peace. This is a day that I always take some time to celebrate in some way. I usually like to remember Mattie Stepanek and read his poem "For Our World" http://myhero.com/peace2010 that he wrote on September 11,2001. Please take some time to think about a way that you can promote peace in your life. Even something as simple as smiling at people as you walk down the street can make a difference.

Mattie was a poet and peacemaker who touched hearts all over the world. He died of mitochondrial disease in 2004 and in his short life he made some headway in promoting peace throughout our world in a profound way for such a young boy. I admire him and hope that I can be more like him as I "grow up".

This week is Mitochondrial Disease awareness week and Wednesday was "Light a light for mito" to light a candle in remembrance of all who like Mattie have fought a brave battle with this disease and passed on to a new life and to celebrate the lives of all of us who are still living one day at a time fighting mitochondrial disease...hoping that one day soon there will be a cure.

Check out the pages of some of my friends with mito. I have been so blessed to get to know these children and adults who are fighting this battle with me. Malisa, Matthew, Sheridan, Eithene, Colbie, Natalie, Heidi and Alexandria, Ava, Rina, Sara and many more.

Take some time this week to spread awareness of this disease that has so profoundly affected my life, my family and my friends. http://www.umdf.org and Mito Action

much love and peace,
Jenelle