Illigitimi Non Carborundum Don

Illigitimi Non Carborundum
- WWII General 'Vinegar' Joe Stillwell in pseudo Latin which loosely translated to 'Don't let them wear you down.'

I've got some good news and I've got some bad news:

The bad news is that you have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
The good news is that you now know that you have alpha-1 antitrypsin
deficiency.

        Please don't let this diagnosis overwhelm you - easy to say I know but
please know that you are not alone, it isn't a death sentence and it doesn't
have to be the defining essence of who you are.

        I was diagnosed in 1999 and thought that it was the end of the world.
Considering how sick I was at that time.. it almost was but that is another
story. The diagnosis for me, while upsetting, was probably one of the most
positive things that has ever happened in my life.

        It was then that I was able to get educated about alpha1 and take charge of
my life and health. It was after I knew what I had that I was able to reach
out to others with the same problems and issues and develop a network of
friends and support people who have helped keep my head above water when it
would have been easy for me to just say screw it and give in to the despair
that is so easy to fall into. Being diagnosed challenged me to live my life
instead of just existing in it. Living with alpha-1 is just that - living
with a condition. Living. Not dying - living.

        With this diagnosis you will be challenged, your friends and family will be
challenged to come to an understanding of what it is to live with alpha-1
antitrypsin deficiency. The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you can
take that knowledge of what is at risk and fight back with every breath. It
isn't the death sentence it used to be. For me it has become a life sentence
and to be honest, I've lived more intensely since my diagnosis in 1999 than
I ever did before I knew how fragile 'wellness' can be.

        Good luck and remember - don't let 'em wear you down -

Illigitimi Non Carborundum!

Sincerely,

John Morton

Diagnosed and informed of his alpha-1 deficiency in 1999

Pi(Z)(Variant) - alpha-1 comes in assorted flavors the most frequent is
Pi(Z)(Z) but there are others.

For more general information or links to a support group near you:

www.alpha1.org