My name is Donae' Lee Patrickson.  I live in Great Neck, New York, with my mother and my dad.  I am 45 years old.

I used to work before my health went south back in 2005.  I have fibromyalgia (like having arthritis pain all over your body; it's horrible!), diabetes (diagnosed in 2008), and congestive heart failure (diagnosed in 2010).  It seems that I am always going to doctors appointments for one thing or another and at times I've been in the hospital due to my heart or because I had another diabetic episode that totally screwed up my blood sugar levels.  My diabetes is the kind that is awfully hard to control.

People would think that I would be depressed because I've gone through so much, but nothing could be further from the truth.  If anything, I am very grateful for what I DO have and that I have doctors who are working closely with me (and my parents) to help keep my health in check.  I'm grateful, too, because I have insurance and am able to make ends meet (thanks to my disability check, which I finally got after fighting for five years; I was approved for disability a year ago).

My life may seem bad to some people, but compared to a lot of people, my life is good.  No, it's actually GREAT!  I have a very strong faith in God, I go to church every week, and try to stay active (as long as my heart doesn't act up and as long as I don't push myself too hard).  I belong to a women's bowling league, I go swimming and go to aerobics for people with health problems, and I get together with friends every Friday, where we go out to eat and talk or share Bible study.

I don't know what the future holds for me, but as long as I am able to, I will try to stay positive and look at the good side of life.  I think that's why I am doing well even in spite of all my health problems.

Well, I hate to run, but I am going to go to the store (a friend is picking me up shortly).  I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Donae' saying so long and God bless!

~To be continued!~