I wanted to share something that happened to me this week.

Last year, I did a cold outreach and was invited to a podcast hosted by the wonderful Ugonna. It was my first face-to-face interview in a while, so I was a bit nervous. After filming, the episode came out, and people listened. Fast forward six months, and Ugonna shares the podcast episode again. This time, it’s really resonating with people. The outpouring of love has been beautiful, with many sending me messages after watching the clips.

For those who don’t know me, my name is DK Joneh.

I relocated to London in 2009 for my Master’s, but I graduated from my BSc in 2006. Between 2006 and 2009, I worked and pursued academic endeavors without a break, despite struggling with my health. It was during this time, in late 2008, that I had a bone marrow test because I thought I had leukemia. Prior to that, I thought it was sickle cell and faced several other health scares.

watch here

Living with a chronic illness means people often react with surprise, wondering why they didn’t know.

The signs were there, but we didn’t have a clear diagnosis.

People thought it was malaria, menstrual pain, or sickle cell. I remember sitting in a bank one day, tearing up without realizing it.

Crying doesn’t come easy to me; it usually happens when someone else is hurt, not necessarily because of my own pain. Perhaps its because I have known pain for so long.

In 2010, I was diagnosed with IBS, and in 2011, with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and joint hypermobility syndrome. Despite exercising and eating right, I wasn’t getting better. In 2012, I went to India for extensive tests and was told I needed therapy. This was one of the worst things I could hear as a Christian.

Being told “it’s just in your mind” is heartbreaking for a chronic illness patient.

After numerous tests, the doctors couldn’t pinpoint a major issue, leaving me feeling dismissed.

Here’s a brief timeline of my diagnosis journey:

• 2006: Graduated from BSc.
• 2008: Bone marrow test for suspected leukemia.
• 2009: Relocated to London for my Master’s.
• 2010: Diagnosed with IBS.
• 2011: Diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and joint hypermobility syndrome.
• 2012: Went to India for medical tests.
• 2013: Diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.
• 2024: Diagnosed with Autism.

A different educational psychologist told me that my writing and reading skills were not in the same decade, but my speaking skills were my best asset.

She said I quote

All the test and observations point to the fact that you should not have what you have in terms of degrees, interest, passions etc. You speak really well and have a way of bringing people into your world. so let's embrace this . However, for exams you will need a scribe but I said God forbid and just believed I had a voice that others had to hear

This began my journey with podcasting. You all know the story. I have shared stories on Reconcilers Radio, led Bible Study since 2010, and started my own podcast. Now, I’m working on a new podcast with the collaborative. I have spoken on stages, written two books but I did not do this by my own strength.

Despite these challenges, I’ve continued to learn and grow.

The reality of living with chronic illness is a constant balancing act. Flare-ups can be frequent and debilitating, requiring me to take breaks often.

For instance, if I have a meeting on Monday and Tuesday, I might have to rest in the morning and work just a few hours before being knocked out in bed with pain.

This brings me to a realization: I’ve done everything – written books, created courses, recorded podcasts – for the person I am, not the person I wished I was. I wished for many things: to be as smart as others or as intelligent as my father. But I’ve learned to work with the brain I have. Do I still struggle to assimilate information? Yes. But you would never know. I’ve spoken on stages, given talks, and keynote speeches, doing it my way.

Neurodivergence means we experience the world differently. We’re not necessarily slow; we just experience things in our unique way. I used to think my brain was slow, but then I realized it’s actually faster than normal, and people are trying to keep up with me. I had to learn to work with the brain I have, and that has made all the difference.

Managing my health has been one of the most challenging aspects of my life. It’s taught me skills I never knew I had. I had to learn how to be productive, manage symptoms, connect dots, manage my time, and keep track of appointments. These skills have transformed me and allowed me to transform others.

I’m often called the productivity queen, the efficiency queen, because I think about every detail.

Sometimes, people misunderstand my illness, thinking it’s a way to get attention. But if I wanted attention, there are easier ways to get it. Living with a chronic illness is a struggle, and it has taught me compassion and grace. It’s taught me to show myself and others compassion.

So, here I am, sharing my journey with you.

I want to encourage you to embrace your own journey.

We all have struggles, and we often push ourselves too hard. It’s important to recognize when we need to slow down and take care of ourselves. You are the hero of your story, and I’m here to guide you.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Let’s continue to inspire and support each other. Remember – don’t worry, be happy!

If you’d like to watch the interview I mentioned, click here to watch it.here