Mom has had some crazy big bruises (or so she thought) on her abdomen and thighs. She has been getting all sorts of tests to figure out what it is. She was diagnosed a few weeks ago with Morphia, also known as Scleraderma which is an immunodeficiency disease. She had to wait a few weeks to know the severity of her case. Poor thing was having a horrible time with it. We have all been hoping for the best since in it’s worse case it can be deforming, debilitating, and terminal.

We all got wonderful news that it is a mild case. Her skin discoloration will never go away where those large “bruises” are but other than that she should be doing pretty well.

Through the last few weeks, talking with her and a woman in my ward who is undergoing cancer treatment I have learned or been reminded that even the more horrible terrifying trials are a gift and a blessing from Heavenly Father–not a punishment or a test. It is through the hardest things that we can learn the most. It is also when we can feel the love and strength of our family, friends and especially our Father in Heaven.

Though I do not wish these difficult things on anyone, especially myself, I do envy the cherished experiences that come from them. The experiences that these women wouldn’t trade anything for.