Where do I start?  My sister means more to me than I can begin to express.  And this page is my way of sharing this with the world. 

I can remember growing up and thinking my sister was the greatest person in the world.  I wanted to be just like her.  When she was learning French in school I wanted to do it to.  There was one day that she, our mom and I had gone out to do something, maybe run errands, and they were talking about her French classes.  I wanted to be a part of it and so I chimed in with "Zsa Zsa Labore".  I honestly thought I was speaking French too.  I can laugh at it now but back then I only remember wanting to be just like her.

I also remember going to all of her gymnastics competitions.  She was so good!  Once in a while she would take me with her when she would go to practice.  I am such a clutz and would usually end up just getting hurt.  But I wanted to be like her so badly that I ended up breaking my leg.  When I was in high school I said to myself that if she could do it I could too.  But...remember I said I was a clutz?...I fell flat on my knee and snapped a ligament and a piece of bone in my lower leg.  I ended up having surgery and was in the hospital for a week.  I gave up trying sports right then.  *L*  

Then my sister became a mom.  And she is one of the best moms that I know.  She loves her boys so much and would do anything for them and give up everything too.  I have seen her struggle financially just so her boys could have the things they wanted and needed.  I admire so much what she has done for her kids.

My sister has been training with boys for some years now in Karate of some sort.  I can't remember what discipline exactly.  But she has no advanced to where she will be testing for black belt soon.  She tried to test once before but she was too sick to continue.  (full explanation of why is below)

My sister has been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis.  I don't know much about the condition but I do know that it has caused and is still causing her a lot of problems.  She recently visited me and during that visit I saw her struggle with her eyesight.  A basic function that we all have our hard times with but with my sister there were times that she could barely see, at least from the way she explained it to me that is what happens.  She has encouraged me to go to the MG website http://www.myasthenia.org/ or the Muscular Dystrophy Association http://www.mda.org and learn more.  I am ashamed to say I haven't done it.  But I do plan to.  I usually don't like reading about medical things because I am the worlds greatest hypochondriac and inevitably I end up getting what I read about...well, I end up thinking I do anyway. 

Seeing my sister struggle with this illness is so hard for me.  I love her so much and I know that while the symptoms can be controlled there is no cure.  I don't want to lose her.  I need her.  I am in tears just thinking about this while I am typing.  MG can be very serious, though from what I do understand about it, death from MG is rare.  Still, it is scary to know that this disease is very serious.  And seeing what it has already done to my sister...I don't like to think about the possibilities.  What I wouldn't give for her strength in this whole ordeal.  I just about crumble at the slightest mention of illness.  I am such a pessimist but my sister is the eternal optimist.  Once again...I want to be just like my sister.

If you are touched by this message may I suggest you make a donation to Jerry's Kids and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  I sure do plan on doing it this year.

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