2-minute read
10 years ago I was 13 living a life I didn’t know I’d be living. November 8, 2012 I went into the hospital, the 10th I went into an intensive care unit (ICU), the 12th we thought I would not make it out, my body attacking itself and not sure of what I had or of how life would turn out afterwards. We had millions of questions and few answers.
Today at 23 I also can’t believe the life I’m living. Also something I didn’t know I’d be living. Living my best life doing an exchange in Sweden, meeting amazing people, traveling and enjoying every second of the day. Living with Lupus as a friend and grateful for it. Having millions of dreams to fulfill the purpose I found in the ICU; the place where I learned to love life! The place where a new life was born.
Looking back there’s so much I’ve learned, so much I’ve lived and so much I still have yet to live, learn and TO GIVE.
I had to find out I was dying to start living. I got a second chance that some kids who were in the ICU at the same as me didn’t get.
Grateful is a small word for the life I’m living, for what the past 10 years have taught me, for the love I’ve been able to give and receive, and for the people that I’m able to share life with.
Grateful is a small word to describe the feeling of joy and thankfulness I feel towards the doctors, the nurses and every member of the medical team that did something so I could make it to the next day alive.
I will be forever grateful for every person that 10 years ago said a prayer, sent a message, made a call, wrote a card and was there for my family and I. All the people that thought about me during those days: thank you! Today all I can say is: THANK YOU and thank You God for giving me all the faith and strength I didn’t know I had.
There’s so many more smiles in me to give.
And to 13 year old Juanita hearing random medical words and with lots of things attached to her body I say: I admire you, you inspire me and I am ready to give life to every dream that was born when we thought life was about to end. It gets better, it truly does!
November, you’re my yearly checkpoint, this year there’s something about number 10 that hits harder and all I’ll say is I’m getting to my dreams as I live the dream.
And to You reading this: thank you! be grateful for one thing today, you’re alive and that’s enough! Don’t wait to find out you’re dying to start living 
-Juanita
Linköping, Sweden (11/22)
Buenisimo mi Juanis! Great Blog! Keep it growing!!
Còmo dar gracias a Dios por tenerte! Nunca me alcanzarà la vida para decirle gracias a todos por acompañar, por rezar, por acompañar y a Dios por regalarme de nuevo mi Muñeca !!
Te amo!