By the time Sunday had arrived I was feeling much better. There was never a day that I had gone without pain, but there were days where the pain was at a minimum and today was one of them. I was excited about attending church today because I was more comfortable and it felt good to not sit at home and be depressed. The plan was to soak as much information in as possible in order for me to be closer to God. I felt as if I’d be a much happier person had I been more connected to God. Maybe he’d reward me for being a good servant and heal me from this illness. While in youth ministry, I sat and thought about the times before I was diagnosed with MCTD. It was just 4 years ago that I was able to wash my hair, put on socks, get out of bed, brush my teeth, move around the house and make my own breakfast, all without complications. Now I felt like a robot. I felt as though I was playing tug-a-war with my own body. My brain would say, “Get up Lani and get dressed.” But my body would say, “No you’re too weak, stay in bed all day.” It was a battle in which I wasn’t prepared to fight at such a young age. But it was also a battle that I had no choice but to fight if I wanted to stay alive.
My thoughts were interrupted by the youth pastor Samar. He asked if I were okay because apparently...