Today I woke up feeling sorry for myself.

I had managed to spend the last couple of days in bed due to ‘fatigue’ and had even sent my friend (who is currently in hospital with pneumonia) a text complaining about how rubbish my life is.

My face is fat with steroid water retention, and don’t even get me started on the excess flab that seems to be attached to my belly.

I seem to be calling everything ‘thing’ or ‘thingy’ or even ‘thinamyjig’, which not only drives me insane but annoys everyone around me.

I am so tired that everything aches, in places that I didn’t even realise were places.

My plasma exchange was over a month ago and I can see absolutely NO improvements.

I have now been single for almost a year and have no prospects of romance as my self-esteem is so low that I don’t want to leave the house.

Everyone’s lives are moving on and I am still left back here, living with my parents, jobless, alone.

I HATE Encephalitis.

I had to drag myself out of bed and force some cereal down. Followed by copious amounts of tablets that I know make me feel like complete crap. At least a large cup of tea always makes things a little better I suppose.

Afterwards I mooched upstairs and opened my laptop.

My laptop is always left with Facebook, Twitter and Gmail tabs open. Normally I filter through my news feeds without paying much attention and ‘like’ the occasional photo or ‘retweet’ a tweet that stands out.

Today was different.

As I went down through my newsfeed a name kept cropping up everywhere I looked.

Stephen.

Stephen Sutton.

Stephen’s Story.

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Who was this Stephen?

Why was everyone talking about him?

I was intrigued.

There must be something very special about Stephen for all these people to be  talking about him.

Firstly I clicked on the link to Stephen’s Story on Facebook…

Reading all the comments about what an inspiration this amazing young man is really pulls at the heartstrings. I don’t think I have ever come across so many people wanting to show their support for someone they do not personally know. It is enough to give you back faith in human beings.

I am lucky enough to have been involved with the charity vInspired myself, and I was so pleased to hear that Stephen won vInspired’s National ‘All Round Commitment to Volunteering’ award!

Then I found his just giving page.

According to Stephen he is ‘pretty much like your average teenager’

Hi! My name’s Stephen and I’m pretty much like your average teenager- except for the last three years now I’ve been battling cancer. The current opinion voiced by my doctors is that my disease is incurable, and as a result I want to spend as much time as possible raising funds for a charity very close to my heart.

Stephen’s JustGiving Page 2014

But the more I read about Stephen’s Story and looked into what Stephen had been doing, the more I realised that he is NOT just ‘your average teenager’.

Raising money for charity is not as easy as you may think.

Raising £10,000 is an incredible amount, just think of how much The Teenage Cancer Trust can do with that?

Raising over £1,000,000 – now that is just something else.

ONE

MILLION

POUNDS

All stemmed from one young amazing man  called Stephen Sutton.

Now that is what I call inspiration.

Who cares if I have a fat face and my life isn’t exactly what I wanted it to be?

I’m alive aren’t I?

And so are YOU.

This quote from Stephen’s Facebook page really touched a nerve:

Unfortunately I haven’t got much time left, but I just want to reiterate to you all what a great time I’ve had recently.
I don’t really want to die, but hopefully my journey has influenced a lot of people for the better and taught people not to take life for granted. I think it has, and will hopefully continue to do so in the future, so in a situation that seems so unfair and without explanation, at least there has certainly been some purpose for me in my short time alive, which certainly helps ease the pain.

I would like to say a personal thank you to Stephen myself.

Not only have you managed to raise an incredible amount of money for an amazing cause, you have also raised awareness and most importantly raised spirits.

If I had just one ounce of your strength and courage I would count myself the luckiest girl alive.

Thank you for making me realise that life is worth living.

If it had not been for you, and your sheer willpower and determination to succeed and stay positive I am sure there are many people out there who would take life for granted.

Thank you for everything you have done.

I have donated £50 and hope that everyone else reaches into their pockets and helps you with your amazing story.

Your story will live on forever.

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