This week is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week – September 14-20

I think about my niece and how nobody can tell she is suffering. She has Still’s Disease and some days, she looks just fine. But that isn’t what her body is saying. Her body is screaming in terrible pain, with raging fevers and a weakness that stops her from even lifting her arms. But you might not be able to tell unless the day you see her is one of her wheelchair days. I didn’t realize how bad it could get until I traveled with her. At the beginning of the day, she will be doing okay. Then as the day wears on, the symptoms ravage her body.

She is an example of what the Invisible Chronic Illness Week is about. We can’t tell from the outside what is going on inside for people. People with chronic illnesses still go about their day and still have to live their life. They have gotten used to coping. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t suffering. They are just doing what they have to do to take care of their kids, provide for their families and keep the household going.

We need to be tender with people. You can’t assume anything about people because you aren’t inside their body or their life. People put on a brave face because they have to, not because they want to. The next time you see someone who is being grumpy or who is slow to get out of your way, remember that they may be doing the best they can. This may be the best day they have had all year. Or maybe today is their worst. We need to choose to be compassionate, polite and understanding. There may come a day when we will need someone to be gentle with us.