2 years ago today, I had no life. Or rather, I had the beginning of one. Ā I had just had a bone marrow transplant, necessary to fix the immune system which, for no discernible reason (thus far) had decided to attack my own body. Ā After over 2 years of being sick, in and out of the hospital, putting law school and everything else on hold, I was finally starting the road to recovery.
But it was a solitary road. Ā For those not aware, when you have a bone marrow transplant, you basically reset to newborn mode. Ā You have no natural immunity to anything. Ā So for the first 6-8 months (typically a year, but a new quarter was starting, and I am nothing if not stubborn), you live in almost complete isolation. No one can touch you Ā No going outside. Ā Iām not even going to get into what youāre allowed to eat. Ā Even though itās a good thing, a necessary thing, it can get you down. Ā Especially for someone who was constantly moving, constantly engaging, constantly doing things, which was my life before.
My mom suggested support groups on chat rooms. Ā And - this is not to knock support groups on chat rooms, because I think they do a lot of good for a lot of people - it was a disaster. Ā I managed to find only two types; theĀ āoh life is over this is the endā type, and theĀ āimmerse myself in religion to get through thisā type. Ā Neither type was for me. Ā Which is how I decided I was going to be alone, and isolated for the better part of a year, but at least Iād have time to catch up on all those shows I never watched.
Which is how I found Sherlock. And then Tumblr. Ā And then this fandom. Ā Itās how I found friends who I could connect with, talk to, engage with, and it didnāt matter that I couldnāt meet in person, because they were right there at my fingertips. Ā Separated by geography, but drawn together by a common love, I found a place where I could fit. A place where I could engage, and be creative and productive and contributeĀ in a way that I wasnāt allowed to do anywhere else. Ā It gave me a purpose, and an outlet, and a way to keep myself together.
So, to the fandom; to my friends, the ones Iāve connected with on and outside of Tumblr, whether we still talk every day or not so much anymore (Iām here if you need me); to those who have engaged with me on Tumblr, who have Ā pushed me to think differently; and to those who have reblogged and encouraged and consumed what Iāve put out there, and supported my thoughts and contributions these past two years, who have accepted me into such a fantastic group of people.
To all of you, I say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.Ā