I woke up one day when I was 16 years old with sharp elbow pain, which was so unusual. That elbow pain progressed to hands and knees - the swelling was so crazy that the doctors had to drain my joints with syringes - not fun. I was soon diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis ran in my family, my mother and grandmother both had it, so I guess I was genetically predisposed for it.
"For the majority of my childhood, I was just trying to hide and escape." - John Donnally, recounting what it was like to grow up with #LymeDisease. It's powerful, emotional testimony...our words can't do this video justice. Please watch and share if it moves you.
Read MoreIn 2010 I was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. I was 19 years old, much older than most. A few weeks leading up to my diagnosis I was very ill: drinking so much water as if I hadn't had a sip of water in years, eating 4-5 meals a day, not to mention peeing around 10 times an hour! I lost 15 pounds in one week and knew I was feeling off. I told my parents something was wrong and they refused to believe me.
Read MoreI was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was around 15 years of age. I started gaining weight rapidly and my doctors believed I had a thyroid problem. After a few visits and many test, they figured out it was diabetes. I didn't think much of it since I have a family history of the disease and my relatives were still living. Doctors warned me to watch my weight and to follow a strict diet to prevent my blood sugar levels from spiking.
Read MoreIt was a beautiful day and no worries to think about.
I, as a beach ball, skipped happily across the sand.
I never stopped to think about the darkness ahead,
with out alarm, the winds or realism pushed me into the ocean of life.