How, at 16, I was brutally confronted with this truth through illness.
I was a happy teenager — in love for the first time, carefree, lighthearted. Until the day lightning struck…
When I was diagnosed with mononucleosis — often called “the kissing disease” — what had begun as a rather ordinary illness turned into a medical mystery that kept me in the hospital for more than three months.
After a sudden episode of very high fever combined with a blood test, my arm doubled in size. That’s when the doctors discovered an abnormally low platelet count — the cells responsible for blood clotting.
From a common virus, my case suddenly took a much darker turn. Suspicion of leukemia. Bone marrow biopsy. Plasma transfusions. Two hepatitis infections (most likely linked to the transfusions). Each day became a battle with uncertainty.
Behind the scenes of it all
While my body was collapsing, something else was breaking at home.
My parents’ marriage was falling apart — in violence and arguments. My sister and I had just discovered that my father was having an affair. Soon after, I developed severe eczema around my mouth.
Speaking was painful, sometimes impossible. I can still see myself, sitting at the back of the classroom, hiding my tears.
My body was screaming what I could not put into words.
The Deeper Meaning of Blood
Blood is our life force. When blood is affected, it often reflects something deeper: a loss of joy, of vital momentum, of the desire to fully embrace life.
Looking back, I understand that my illness was not just a sequence of medical data. My body was expressing, in its own way, the despair and pain I could not put into words.
What I learned
At 16, I had no idea that my body was speaking my pain. I simply endured it all, without really understanding.
But as an adult, I’ve learned to use my body as a guide — to let my struggles lead me not only to a better place and greater ease, but also to a deeper understanding of myself.
My greatest wish for you
To understand, embrace, and guide your body toward the best version of yourself.
Your body reflects undeniable truths.
It is the witness of your story — always.
And when you honor what it has to say, you open the door to healing, transformation, and self-trust.
If you feel called to walk a different path with your body, I’m just one click away.
