Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Losing another M.E (CFS) Patient to Suicide


The M.E. patient group lost a very beloved and important m.e. patient who had been ill with this disease for decades. Sadly he committed suicide. I did not have the privilege to know him because I'm new to this disease, but his death has rocked the M.E.(CFS) community. His name was Thomas Hennessy Jr. He founded the M.E. Awareness Day on May 12th. I have spent this week learning about him and understanding all that he did. Many of my fellow m.e. friends are shocked, in pain, and mourning about his loss.

I read two long blogs in the middle of the night about Thomas that brought me to tears not only for his family but frankly for me too.

People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis suffer horribly and we suffer invisibly and we hide how bad the disease is (at times) to the outside world. I certainly do. I save my deep pain and deep suffering for the private chat rooms where I know I will be understood. Suicides are high for people with this horrible disease.

But tonight I'm coming out of the closet to tell you that this disease took everything from me: my career, my friends, my ability to exercise, my mind due to cognitive impairment. It is brutal and there have been days when I have looked at my husband and told him I understand why the suicide rate is so high.

We have to have outside funding, we have to have solutions, we have to have the important government funding, we have to have trained literate M.E. doctors. This disease is killing people. We need help; we can't do it alone. We can't do this without people who are not sick. This disease can bring down anybody at anytime.

Rest in Peace Thomas. Please take the time to watch this. Please help us.  Click on the words The Blue Ribbon:Sneak Peek.