Rich wrote this a couple of days ago. He rides an emotional roller coaster all day long. It is often tortuous for him. It is really hard to watch and I often feel helpless to stop his pain. As I have said before, “FTD (Frontotemporal Degeneration) is NOT a floral delivery.” This is what Rich wrote:
I HAVE BEEN ASKED HOW I KEEP GOING AND HOLDING MY HEAD UP SO HIGH AFTER ALL I’VE BEEN THROUGH. ONLY THOSE CLOSEST TO ME KNOW WHAT I GO THROUGH EVERY DAY. THE OTHERS, THEY CANNOT BEGIN TO COMPREHEND THE TORMENT, PAIN AND LONELINESS. YET, THE QUESTION IS STILL ASKED.
I KEEP FIGHTING AND HOLDING MY HEAD UP HIGH BECAUSE I AM NOT A VICTIM.
THE SCARS I WEAR, AS A RESULT OF THE DAILY FIGHTS FOR MY EMOTIONAL HEALTH, GIVE ME THE KNOWLEDGE, STRENGTH AND WISDOM THAT I WILL LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.
I AM STILL HERE AND FIGHTING.
I AM LIVING PROOF THAT I HAVE A HISTORY OF VICTORY.
NO MATTER WHAT, I AM A WARRIOR, NOT A VICTIM!
I AM A WARRIOR.
THIS IS WAR.
I CONTINUE TO FIGHT EACH BATTLE.
I AM A WARRIOR!