We Know How You Feel

Image found on Wikipedia. 

I read this quote from famous sjoggie Venus Williams on the Express.co.uk with a heavy heart:

For Venus, just stepping back on to grass will be a major achievement. “Every morning I wake up and I don’t know how I will feel,” she said. “My biggest challenge now is learning how to live like this.” 

Some days she can hardly get out of bed, her joints hurt and creak. She is on a vegan diet and in an attempt to live with the pain has taken up karaoke, singing away to Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. 

“I’m no longer in control of my life,” said Venus. “That’s what it’s like for me now. I suppose though it could be a lot worse.” 

She is suffering from Sjogren’s Syndrome which threatens to rule every minute of her waking day. “Rolling the dice, I call it,” she said. “I don’t know how I am going to be.”
If she cannot hit a tennis ball because of the discomfort, she instead sings along to the music that has become her therapy. Playing tennis is a minor miracle. “I tell people it’s like going to a motor race,” said Venus. “The other cars are ready, the drivers are prepared, only Williams is not ready, not prepared the way she wants to be. 

“But I must strive for what I want and that is to be an Olympian again. Some days I despair, others I feel like I did when I won Wimbledon."

Ah, Venus. We are ALL challenged by learning how to live with Sjogren's syndrome. Hang in there, girl. We're all cheering you on.