Being someone who has always worked hard for everything she got, Mandy felt useless when she was diagnosed with a muscle disease. She had to spend enormous amounts of time in bed and sometimes she would have sick leaves for weeks on end. The doctor informed her that she would have to stay away from work for a while before her muscles stabilized. It was one of the hardest things to ask her to do, but having no other choice she complied. She knew she would be able to get unemployment benefits illness because of her condition, but she did not want to let the situation stay as it was. She would promise herself that as soon as she felt strong, she would get another job, even if it meant having to wheel herself to work. It was three months before she was able to go back to work again. And though she needed frequent rests, she did not give up. She was not going to let herself stay at home and wait for unemployment benefits cut off. Though it took two years to have them cut off support in form of benefits, she was not about to relax and wait for the inevitable. Having your muscles waste away had taught her the importance of keeping fit and working. The moment you relax and do nothing, the harder the comeback will be. It was best to plow on even when she felt like giving up. The first month was hard for her, but with time, she slowly made her comeback. It’s been two years now and she is not using a cane like the first time she started.
