Venus Williams has withdrawn from the 2011 U.S. Open.
She recently found out that she has been suffering all this time with a debilitating autoimmune disease, Sjogren’s Syndrome, that causes symptoms of aching joints, dry eye and dry mouth and fatigue, but affects the body in more serious ways. It’s amazing that she has been playing at what appeared to us to be top form!
She admits that she had not been feeling in top form for a long time, but as a star athlete, she pressed pass the pain and fatigue, and she gave us her best in her competitions. Venus’ performance on the tennis court was marvelous as always. After all, Venus’ bad performance is still at the top of, and better than just about all other performances!
But Venus has said that since she knows what she’s dealing with, she will take time off to take care of her health, find out what her new “normal” will be and soon return to the game of tennis.
video of Venus Williams talking about Sjogren’s Syndrome and her career http://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_MindBodyNews/venus-williams-sjogrens-syndrome/story?id=14426884
I’m glad that she has made this decision to drop out and attend to her health. Too often, we sisters overlook our own health, trying to take care of everyone and everything first, thus forcing ourselves to the bottom of our lists. I think that Venus’ decision sends a positive message out to all women that no matter who they are, or what their economic status, they need to stop and take care of themselves first! If you are sick and debilitated, then you can’t really care for anyone else, now can you?
Venus has had a very long career in tennis and we know that sports are hard on an athlete’s body. I hope and pray that Venus considers retiring and settling down to fashion design or any other thing that she’s good at. She has proven herself on the tennis court a thousand times over, and has nothing left to prove in my opinion.
Venus and her sister Serena have been the greatest female tennis players for a loooong time.
Now is the time to take care of you, sister Venus!
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You Are Leaders! 
How sad. But I’m really proud of her for withdrawing because we all know how competitive the Williams sisters are, so we know this decision wasn’t made lightly.
It is sad but………..
What did people do before we identified all of these illnesses and conditions that seem to keep us down?!?