Hi Sandy,

I totally agree with every word Lindsay said! You have a great daughter right there, she's such a credit to you to have such bad pain and still try and remain optimistic the best she can!

I try and see things the same as Lindsay and stay optimistic. Yes, it is hard but I also know that things could be much worse. I could be dieing, have no home, food and water etc etc. Many times things seem to be bad and I get really depressed but I do always try and realise that things could be much worse, like Lindsay.

My Uncle has just been diagnosed with Terminal Cancer. He's been having chest pain for 2 years and the Doctors said that it was gout in his lungs and just gave him pain medications. It was only the beginning of this year that they did a scan and found he had terminal lung cancer. I think its things like that that make us realise how 'lucky' we are. Yes, we live in excrutiating pain, yes, friends and family don't understand many times and yes, we have many other issues but we are not dieing and therefore, it is important to try and live life the best we can!

My grandad passed away in November 2008 and I think that was a big point when I started realising that you have to live life the best you can. He'd been pretty active and then one day suddenly, he had a major heart attack and died. No one suspected there was a problem and there was no warning sign which is the hardest thing to deal with, other than knowing that he's gone. I know my grandad wouldn't want me to be too sad - he was always an happy-go-lucky person - and I always try and stay positive the best I can, even though it is extremly hard at times!

I can totally relate to what Lindsay said about having to grow up way too quickly. I had to mature a lot quicker than most of my friends due to RSD and it hurts sometimes seeing them having fun whilst i'm at home due to pain but I am thankful for it in some cases.

Please thank Lindsay for writing the post and tell her that she is an inspiration to us all!

Alison xx