The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Jessica Velazquez

Today I’m sharing my interview with Jessica Velazquez. She is a 25-year-old who lives in Florida. She is a fellow poetry writer who also loves singing, playing guitar, reading, and doing DIY/miscellaneous projects. She has a full-time job working the front desk for an insurance agency.

When were you diagnosed with Lupus?

5 days after my 17th birthday.

How has it impacted your life?

It completely changed my life. I went from being an active teen who walked everywhere under the sun, to debilitated and unable to lift even a glass of water to my lips. It’s been a strange journey to say the least, and 8 years later I’m still learning how to live with it. Some days I almost feel normal again and I can accomplish a lot, but I’ve never been the same since my first flare.

With Lupus, what have been the hardest things to deal with?

Everything about being disabled/chronically ill is difficult, as it impacts all aspects of our lives, but for me the hardest has been the judgement of those closest to me and how their voices became my internal dialogue. I believed I was lazy, weak, and deserving of being ill for too many years. I believed that if I used a mobility aid or identified as disabled or sick and asked for help I was “giving in” because that’s what I was told, but it’s not true and I know that for sure today.

What have you learned? What positive impact has Lupus had on your life?

It has taught me to be more empathetic and understanding of others. Thanks to Instagram I’ve been able to meet other warriors, and that’s not only been helpful and validating but refreshing. It’s also given me a lot to write and sing about.

What do you do to stay positive?

As odd as it may sound, to remain positive I allow myself to be negative. I give myself the time and space to sit with all that I am genuinely feeling physically and emotionally, I don’t ignore it, I listen to what I need, and I find that it makes me feel better despite the circumstances. 

What would you say to others who are fighting chronic illness?

Don’t hide it. Be honest and ask for help. Be honest with those who are close to you, be honest with your coworkers/bosses, and be honest especially with your doctors, and as cliche as it sounds, don’t listen to the haters.

What is your favorite quote?

“It’s okay if you fall. You can just get up again. Why don’t you look up at the sky, while you’re down there.The blue sky spreads across above you. Can you see it smiling at you? You are alive.” – Aya Kitou