My Sister

...is 19, about a year and half younger than me.

For a long time, we didn't really get along so well. Anyway, as of a year or so ago she's been ill. I call it "illness x", because no-one knows what it is. She's had a bunch of symptoms, including

• hormones way out of whack
• polycystic ovaries
• chronic fatigue
• extremely hormonal/pms-y
• serious digestive issues
• serious bloating
• acne

She's also at college in the US. She's really smart (which caused issues between us for a number of years), and she's also majoring in science. She's just finished her first year.

She's been struggling with all these things for a while, but things got much worse this summer. She also spent a lot of her summer going back and forth to doctors appointments, and is now taking about 10 pills a day. She also hasn't really made any progress with finding out what it is or what's wrong with her.

She's meant to be leading an orientation trip, but I just can't imagine she'll be able to. She was totally exhausted and had to take a rest after going shopping for two hours. I just can't imagine her being able to lead an outdoor hiking trip for 4 or 5 days.

I'm also really worried about her ability to successfully complete next semester. I mean, if she can barely last a morning of shopping I don't know how she's going to handle a semester of college.

This whole illness has changed my relationship with my sister. I've always been a very maternal type of person, and I like to mother people. My sister hates me mothering her, but now she's becoming more open to me looking after her, which is good for us.

Anyway, I'll be writing more about my sister and our relationship later, but she's having a tough time with everything, as are the rest of us!