I have a blood disease.  Have had it for 9 1/2 years now.  I’m 66.  I live on blood transfusions every 2 weeks.  280 units of blood in that amount of time. My doctor says it’s a miracle that I am still alive.   My bone marrow is not making blood to live on and now do to all the transfusions I am overloaded with stored iron which is deadly.  I take a very dangerous medication to get rid of some of the iron (ferritin).  $12,000.00 a month.  I do have a grant I apply for each year.  I pray every day for this to go away as fast as it started. For my transfusions to get further apart.  For my labs to be normal once again. I want to be alive to hold my first blood grandchild when that time comes.   I have a saying which I tell everyone, “Smile, laugh, love and live everyday to its fullest, because tomorrow is not promised.”  People ask me, how can you remain so strong and positive?  I got tired of saying, why me? Why am I being punished?  Then I slapped myself and said, it could be worse. I feel lucky everyday I open my eyes and take a deep breath.   There is no answer.  Everything happens for a reason.  Like my friend has said, God is keeping you around for a reason and she can see why. – Heidi Barrier