Misdiagnosis!

Thank God for doctors. The work and good they do can't be over-appreciated. And thankfully, most of the time they get it right when making diagnoses. (Ever watch "House"?)

This morning I met a beautiful young woman who at age 32 found out she has cystic fibrosis - a genetic and fatal disease. She's had it her whole life. She's had the symptoms her whole life - coughing, struggle breathing, eating like a linebacker but never gaining weight. And her whole life she was misdiagnosed.

Now, after finding out just two years ago that she has this disease, she's begun the process at Duke University Hospital to be placed on the list for a double lung transplant. It's not a cure, but it's the only option left for her to sustain life.

Can you imagine always knowing "something's wrong" and it's more than a cold or bronchitis. None of the meds, whether over the counter or prescription do any good. And the people you count on to tell you what's wrong can't figure it out. Can you imagine?

We live in a culture/society where "misdiagnosis" is now more common than the plain truth. Now, every behavioral problem is either the result of some "disorder" or "disease", even though the problems are the result of choices, not a bacteria or mutated gene. We live in a day when it's more acceptable to put the blame on someone else than accept responsibility for our own lives. We've taught ourselves to look for someone to say to us, "It's not your fault. You can't help it".

But your whole life, even though you've been fed the lines, deep within you know the diagnoses have been off the mark. Won't someone just tell the truth?

Yet, when someone does speak the truth it's a difficult pill to swallow, but it can be life changing.

More to come.