I've been struggling with mixed feelings since last night's news report of Venus Williams' diagnosis of Sjogren's Syndrome. My husband listened closely to the news as the anchor deconstructed the syndrome and its effect on those of us who have Sjogrens. He then turned to me and expressed his concern about the seriousness of the disorder and how I should be taking care of myself. While I am glad that he heard the report, what makes it "real" to him this time? Why wasn't his reaction the same when I was diagnosed? When I was diagnosed, and in subsequent struggles with flareups and inflammations/fatigue, his opinion was that I "talked myself into thinking I was sick", "I needed to move more instead of sitting", et cetera et cetera.
Does a celebrity have to do/have/be something before it is real? I am grateful to Venus for sharing information about Sjogrens, but sad that: 1. she has to suffer with this disorder 2. that my husband took so long to hear what I've been trying to tell him for 10+ years - and he didn't hear it from me.
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