The story of Jessica
My name is Jessica. I am a full time Anthropology student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I have dreams of a masters and a PhD in the future. I also act (currently play the wicked stepmother in my school production of Ash Girl a retelling of the Cinderella story), sing, paint, write, play the violin, dance burlesque, and guest lecture at my university. I am proud of being a straight A student with three semesters running on the chancellor’s list. I live with Behcet’s Disease, and Ankoloysing Spondylitis. Every day is a challenge as I face pain, sickness, and exhaustion. We still haven’t found a combination of medications that are working to slow down my diseases or to even give me any kind of relief. My diseases are progressing and my body has already suffered permanate damage. I have gotten used to running out of classes to throw up e-mailing my teacher’s from an ER hospital bed, getting strange looks when I use my crutch or my breathing machine at school, and holding off all day on pain medications so I can focus on school. There will always be monsters in my shadows I have to fight in order to achieve all I want in this life. I don’t remember life before pain and I will never know it again. But I don’t feel sorry for myself. I fight, I struggle, and then I fly. My body is broken and sometimes feels like a prison I am traped in but my mind will always be free. I’m also the author of a blog about being a a full time college student with rare, incurable diseases. I like to be very candid to show others not only what it is like for people who are struggling with such diseases, but also for people who do have rare diseases to know they are not alone and can do anything they put their minds to. It can be found at www.unstopablestudent.net
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