Moonwalk: Epilogue

Dear Readers,

Writing this diary serial has been a journey up a moonbeam, a view into a world that could’ve been so dark, but has been bravely lit by glowing sparks of hope, resilience, and courage. Putting Libby’s journey into words and chapters has been a process of almost three years – a process, a privilege, and an opportunity.

In writing Moonwalk, I’ve been lucky enough to get to know dozens of quiet heroines, regular teens just like you, who fight the silent battles of chronic illness, often unrecognized and unapplauded. They struggle with the ups and downs that Libby went through in these pages, sometimes for years and years without a clear diagnosis, and then, as life goes on, with the medication, the flare-ups, the changes of treatment plans, the secrets, the emotional pressure… plus everything else that matters in the life of a teen: friends, family, schoolwork, shopping. And despite all of this, so many of them succeed in overcoming the hurdles, one step at a time – and even reaching out to support others along similar, challenging journeys.

Libby’s story is drawn from the true-life accounts of a few amazing girls diagnosed with auto-immune conditions. The challenges are real; the medical details and series of tests and doctors’ appointments are typical of a girl with Libby’s symptoms; and the reactions of Libby’s family, friends, and teachers are true-to-life. My hope is that the glimpse Libby’s given us into the world of chronic illness will bring more understanding, validation, and support to the heroines among us who are often fighting their battles alone.

To the incredible girls of MyTEAM support group: thank you for inviting me into your hearts, and for sharing the views from the mountains you’ve climbed. Thank you for your honesty, for not masking the raw pain, the grit, the heartbreak, the lowest moments. Thank you for your stories of survival, courage, resilience and faith. Most of all, thank you for teaching me what it means to be a fighter.