One appreciative person is Judith, check out her site at Jude's Porphyria Page. http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/heyjude957/...
Mary Pretlow knows how to count her blessings. Read her story at http://www.hpe.com/2000/04/07/news/407ne...
Skip's nightmare started when a horse kicked him at age 12. Here is a great example of counting blessings: http://www.thesojourners.org/
Decking the halls? Check these lists before you fill your house with a few of your favorite things: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/8481... and 5 Common Things to Avoid http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/porp...
Have a carbohydrate Christmas...Fill up on carbs at that holiday party, especially if you plan to have a drink. The carbs will help keep your blood sugar stable. Try to stay away from red wine and smoked meats as these trigger attacks in many people with porphyria.
Are the relatives visiting? Take the opportunity to ask if the family is aware of porphyria. I know porphyria is the last thing you want is to talk about, but this is mostly an inherited disease and the more people are aware of the risk, the more they can make informed choices in their lives.
Don't run yourself ragged. Let someone else bring the ham this year. Ask guests to bring a dish (or two), accept some help. You might even consider dining out for Christmas. This year my family ate out for Thanksgiving and it worked out wonderfully.
Practice "realistic" decorating. I was in the Houston area the weekend after Thanksgiving and I know what some of you are up against. People were decorating out the wazoo! I saw giant inflatable snowmen, mechanical reindeer, and lights on everything that stood still. Yes, it is gorgeous, but you don't have to have the nativity scene out every year and a few less Christmas lights won't dampen your spirit.
One important piece of advice from my sister: Don't watch the news channels for too long. Too much doom and gloom will only bring on the stress and depression.
Just a few tips to help porphyriacs get through the coming weeks. Remember the reason for the season and Merry Christmas to all.
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