Something about him was different. Perhaps it was our blunt conversation the first time we met when he jokingly asked what was wrong with me since I was single. I was instantly amused and figured, he asked, so I’m going to tell. I informed him that I have a rare disease called Fibrosing Mediastinitis in which my body develops an abundance of scar tissue in my chest that crushes my organs, arteries and veins. The few doctors who know of my disease explained that I would die by slowly suffocating from the inside out.
I paused, eager to hear the excuse Tim would come up with as to why he suddenly had to leave but instead, he asked questions. I sat there wondering why this man was still talking to me after everything I had just shared and before the night was over, he asked for my number. Two years later we were married!
We often reflect on the first night we met and how different our lives turned out from what we envisioned. Every relationship will have ups and downs but adding a rare disease in to the mix will definitely intensify those issues. Our date nights now range from dinner at our favorite restaurant to Tim holding my hand in the hospital as I recover from yet another procedure. These challenges will test your relationship but when you find the right person, it’s worth it.
