This is a lovely poem by Australian Lyme Patient Karen Smith. I came across it (I think I was Googling ‘Can Coconut Oil Cure Lyme?’ or something else equally as daft) and felt I should share it to help spread awareness. This lady has done just that for people in Australia where the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme is even more of a battle than it is in the UK. It is very simple but brought a tear to my eye:

Invisible

Invisible is really not all it’s cracked up to be

It is dark and painful, lonely and bleak

It is the realisation that you must constantly fight

If there is any chance to be reunited with the light

Invisible is the desire

To live without pain and to return to a normal life

To be able to work, drive, listen to music or dance

Where the simple act of catching up with friends

Doesn’t come with the ‘pay back’ of a few days in bed

It is the dreams to participate once again in life, to live to the fullest, not simply exist

Invisible is the longing

For the understanding of family and friends

To know that they truly remember who we were before illness

That they believe that we are doing our very best to return to that life

To know that we are still loved and respected for the people we have always been

And not judged by the illness that has consumed our body

Invisible is the despair

That one day you will not keep finding a reason, or the strength to continue on

It is the midnight tears and the questioning of ‘who am I now?’

It is wondering will this pain ever end, will these voices ever cease

And will I ever find ‘ME’ again

Invisible is the cloak we wear

The smile on our face and our light hearted jokes

Are veils and armour that hide the pain and heartache

Look into our eyes and you will see

Invisible is a place you don’t ever want to be

Help us bring invisible into the light

So that no others have to suffer and fight

Tell our stories, believe our plight

Stand up with us and say, enough of the suffering this just isn’t right