The rest of the disabilities – inability to walk or use my arm and hand; tiredness caused by walking; inability to swallow thin liquids (unless I do it veery slowly); and a change of pitch in my voice and a slurred speech – are progressing very slowly, so much so, that on occasion I think that they’re here to stay. Sometimes, when the day comes to an end and all the tiredness washes over me, I feel like staying in bed the next day, and the next, and the next. But I wake up and have breakfast and start all over again.
Yet, despite of all the things that are either impossible to change or very gradually changing (to the point that I can’t believe they will change), there’s something my injury has given me: new and deeper friendships. It gave me friends that are always there for me; who are always ready to give; with whom I can always talk about any topic; with whom I can vent; with whom I can share ideas; with whom I can think; with whom I can laugh; with whom I can sing (with my hoarse voice). These are generous friends who are always willing to say yes, and if I don’t ask, to offer: true friends.