A year and a half ago, I was diagnosed with uremia. Dialysis treatments twice a week, three hours per session, became the focus of my life. Looking at blood circulating outside my body and the fistula in my arm, I was constantly reminded of my body’s fragility. The hardest part was the strict dietary restrictions: my once-loved foods became forbidden. I grew irritable and desperate, resenting fate’s injustice and feeling like a burden to my low-income family.

 

I was especially worried my husband would leave me, so I forced myself to move to my older sister’s house, hiding how serious my illness was. It wasn’t until I joined Amy’s Women Empowerment that my friends here encouraged me to be myself. They told me I didn’t have to carry it alone and that I could always talk to my family about my difficulties.

 

Encouraged by them, I went home and frankly told my husband that I was not doing well, that the treatment days were tough, and I needed his and our son’s care and tolerance. To my pleasant surprise, they became my strongest support, accompanying me to all of my dialysis sessions. My son even came with me to Amy’s Women Empowerment’s meet ups. When I got the transplant notice, my husband, son, sister, and group of friends all rushed to the hospital to cheer me on. That was the warmest moment of my life.

 

This experience made me realize that we don’t have to fear exposing vulnerability and that asking for help is never shameful. Being sick doesn’t make us inferior or unworthy of request. Only by sincerely communicating with loved ones can we embrace their support. I encourage every struggling friend to be brave and speak out about their vulnerability because those who love you are always willing to stand by you.