I set out on a very important, yet very personal mission today, set forth by a Global PAD Association Patient Advisor Becky L, to create an image that depicted the pain we all feel with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).

If you are just hearing about this disease here for the first time, it’s blocked arteries in mainly the legs that cuts off blood flow and can lead to doctors cutting off a leg if it advances too far without timely treatment, as with mine.

Many describe this pain as having a tourniquet wrapped around their legs, leaving their nerves, muscles, and tissue screaming for oxygen and other nutrients that blood flow typically carriers to them.

But so many are forced to live with this pain for so long without a doctor trying to open up those arteries, only a brush off to go walk through the pain to attempt to force the body to grow new vessels on its own.

That’s easier said than done, especially since many doctors misdiagnose the symptoms in early stages where it might be less painful to push through some of the cramping.

But as it progresses to the point doctors can’t ignore it anymore because patients say they don’t even want to get up in the morning knowing the pain that lies ahead with every step they take…

it’s too late.

The pain has already pushed passed the level where it’s even tolerable and their mental capacity for it is tapped out.

Still, just like in my case, doctors don’t really understand this pain.

They can’t see it in a 15 minute consult with my brave face.

They can’t see my daily sacrifices because of it.

How could they?

I rarely let it be seen by friends and family.

I just make up excuses as to why I can’t join in, such as:

I’ll just sit in the car while you run in the store because I need to check phone messages (I don’t want to stop and rest in every aisle!).

I have to use the restroom so you go on that next rollercoaster ride on your own (I really can’t walk that far and waiting for me will ruin their fun!).

I can’t go watch your soccer game because I have a pipe leak and I have to wait for the plumber to come (I can’t walk 10 feet from the car to the bleachers without resting twice!).

The truth is, I do want to go. I just don’t want to be a burden.

I don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me or having to sacrifice their fun to accommodate me.

Even more, I don’t want them to feel bad because I am.

That’s why, when I do show up, I hide the pain.

Others with PAD do as well.

There are just some things we have to do and we have to push through.

You might not see the pain on their face while their pushing through as either they don’t want you to see it, or it’s simply become a way of life.

You see them laugh outside when something is funny, but don’t let that momentary distraction fool you.

Know that this pain is debilitating and on the inside I assure you they’re still crying.

I know…because I experience it daily.

I must get up in the morning.

I must go to work.

I want to see my kids.

So, I can’t let the pain get the best of me.

I must push through!

To depict the pain I’m referencing and the courage we all must muster every single day to live to walk another day and walk to live, is quite the undertaking…

But this is a start.

Feel free to share these images below to help spread awareness of PAD and help someone you love seek treatment sooner before merely the thought of walking creates unconscionable pain and suffering.