Mission & Purpose
Many women, young and old, with autoimmune disorders find it difficult to talk about or to let others know of their condition. Our daily struggle is unlike what most people consider a “serious illness” because many autoimmune disorders are not visible to the naked eye. Some people refer to these disorders as “invisible disabilities/diseases” (see definitions below). By that, I mean that people can’t see the pain that we are going through, so, they assume that we just aren’t that sick. Sometimes even the simplest of tasks are unbearable due to the symptoms associated with the autoimmune disorders.
Invisible Disabilities: The term invisible disabilities refers to symptoms such as debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, cognitive dysfunctions, learning differences and mental disorders, as well as hearing and vision impairments. These are not always obvious to the onlooker, but can sometimes or always limit daily activities, range from mild challenges to severe limitations and vary from person to person.
Invisible Diseases: We decided to call them “invisible” for two reasons:
1. The internal suffering that is experienced is not seen by others.
2. Current medicine does not know the exact testing, cause, evolution or treatment for these illnesses.
My own journey to medical diagnosis of my problems is what led me to create this blog. I feel that it is part of my life’s purpose. My goals are:
- To provide an outlet/platform for myself and other women, especially young women, who are facing the same problems, that they may be empowered in knowing they are not alone in this experience
- To create awareness of autoimmune disorders
- To provide support and educational resources for autoimmune disorders
Why breaking the cage and why hummingbirds?
The Cage
In the beginning of my journey, I started to feel entrapped by my personal struggles with fibromyalgia. My pain caused me to become unsociable, missing out on numerous events and shutting out many friends/loved ones who I considered near and dear. I found myself sleeping more because of my fatigue. The next major symptom that struck was “fibro fog”, or, as defined by the Fibromyalgia Network, “difficulty concentrating, disorganized thinking, memory problems, and inability to stay focused or alert.” I avoided eating out because I never knew what would trigger my unusual facial or eye swellings that doctors have yet to figure out the cause. In short, my conditions entrapped me and became my cage.
Hummingbirds
Sometime around my 24th birthday, I decided that I was no longer my symptoms. Yes, I still have my symptoms. No, I’m not sure what all is causing them. BUT, I refuse to suffer from them any longer; I refuse to be entrapped by the cage that is, in my case, fibromyalgia and some underlying autoimmune disorder. I became the bird in the cage. In order to break the cage, I needed my voice, I needed healing; but, most importantly, I needed faith & determination, which could only come from my source of strength, God. The hummingbird has these qualities and more. The bird’s design is remarkable. It’s one of the smallest birds yet it has the biggest heart in proportion to its body. This bird accomplishes what’s thought of as impossible.
In the beginning of my journey, I started to feel entrapped by my personal struggles with fibromyalgia. My pain caused me to become unsociable, missing out on numerous events and shutting out many friends/loved ones who I considered near and dear. I found myself sleeping more because of my fatigue. The next major symptom that struck was “fibro fog”, or, as defined by the Fibromyalgia Network, “difficulty concentrating, disorganized thinking, memory problems, and inability to stay focused or alert.” I avoided eating out because I never knew what would trigger my unusual facial or eye swellings that doctors have yet to figure out the cause. In short, my conditions entrapped me and became my cage.
Hummingbirds
Sometime around my 24th birthday, I decided that I was no longer my symptoms. Yes, I still have my symptoms. No, I’m not sure what all is causing them. BUT, I refuse to suffer from them any longer; I refuse to be entrapped by the cage that is, in my case, fibromyalgia and some underlying autoimmune disorder. I became the bird in the cage. In order to break the cage, I needed my voice, I needed healing; but, most importantly, I needed faith & determination, which could only come from my source of strength, God. The hummingbird has these qualities and more. The bird’s design is remarkable. It’s one of the smallest birds yet it has the biggest heart in proportion to its body. This bird accomplishes what’s thought of as impossible.
The ruby-throated hummingbird, on the east side of North America, crosses the Gulf of Mexico. It stores a layer of fat equal to half its body weight before setting off. At the normal rate of use, however, this would not be enough to last the crossing of the Gulf. Yet the hummingbird does complete the journey” (Denis Dreves “The Hummingbird: God’s Tiny Miracle”).
When I read this, I realized that this is exactly what we (people affected by autoimmune disorders) must do, have faith and persevere through our journey, regardless of what science or our doctors say. We must continue and strive on and not allow our condition to trap us in a cage. We must break the cage and persevere like the hummingbird!
The Native American totem also inspired me to choose the hummingbird for a mascot. This culture views the hummingbird as a messenger and a symbol of beauty and joy. Spirits of the West Coast, an art gallery whose primary focus is original Native American art, explains their importance and totem significance best:
The Native American totem also inspired me to choose the hummingbird for a mascot. This culture views the hummingbird as a messenger and a symbol of beauty and joy. Spirits of the West Coast, an art gallery whose primary focus is original Native American art, explains their importance and totem significance best:
The Native Symbol or Totem Hummingbird teaches you to appreciate and love the miracle of living, and to help you focus on the positivity in your life. They are messengers of peace, they heal your body and soul and they guide you through life’s challenges. Hummingbirds are very independent and seem to have an unlimited energy supply. They symbolize wonder and beauty.