Carrie Fisher was an inimitable presence in countless lives. An actress, an icon, an author, a mother to an actress, a daughter to an actress, a humorist, an activist, and more... She was so many things to so many.

To me? She was an ally. The paragon I looked up to. The one I still do.

When I turned 21, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This is a disease that you will have for the rest of your life. I will suffer from this illness forever.

As you can imagine... This was hard to hear.

I remember feeling this dread wash over me. I stood there, looking at my doctor as he explained what it meant. He offered services, support groups, literature... But I wasn't there. My mind was considering two things.

1) I would always feel this way. There would be no peace.

2) It had a name. A name meant we could treat it.

So even though dread enveloped me... tears of joy followed. We had an answer.

Treatments were ahead of me. Breakdowns that shook the lives of my family and friends. Suicide attempts. Days of despair. Nights of hopelessness.

But it was there, at my weakest, that I found the heroine to my story.

In a simple statement. Innocuous at best... but everything to me.

"It's going to be ok. Did you know Carrie Fisher has bipolar disorder?"

Out of the darkness, a flicker of light. A flame. It was small... but it was there.

Hope...

Carrie Fisher. Princess Leia. No. She was perfect.  An accomplished thespian. Synonymous with Star Wars.

Could she have this and be all that she is?

The answer to that, as I would discover, was a resounding yes.

Here's what I want to do.

Donate.  Share.  Create your own fundraiser here or elsewhere.  Spread awareness.  Or just leave a positive message.

Carrie gave me hope.  I want nothing more than to do the same.

Click here to help in any way you can:

https://www.crowdrise.com/for-carrie-fisher-who-gave-us-hope