Viewing: Chronic Illness and Diagnosis
August 18, 2016
How to Cope with the Train Wreck of New Diagnosis
As I lay in the darkness, my fingers poised on the keys of my laptop, tears run down my cheeks as I listen to the sound of my son’s feeding pump a few feet away–a constant reminder that my normal isn’t really normal at all. In a recent trip to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, I sat in a chair watching... Read morePosted in Caregivers, Chronic Illness and Diagnosis, chronic illness; support, Parenting and Chronic Illness | By Heather Cole
July 28, 2016
To Melanie, from Your Future Chronic Illness
You’re an adult now, newly 18. You’ll leave for college soon and it won’t be easy. The adjustment won’t be too bad, you’ll make a few friends and earn good grades. But as the year progresses, the real difficulty begins. When you can’t use the restroom without crying because of pain and your mom comes to pick you up to... Read morePosted in Caregivers, Chronic Illness and anxiety, Chronic Illness and Diagnosis, Chronic Life | By Stacey Philpot
July 21, 2016
Dear Younger Me When I Was Healthy…
Dear Kelly, This is me, your future self. You are about to embark on a journey that you never planned and life is going to get very hard. I want you to stop focusing on yourself and living as the world tells you to live. I want you to make sure that you pray to G-d every day for everything because... Read morePosted in Chronic Illness and body image, Chronic Illness and Diagnosis, chronic illness; support, Chronic Life, Faith | By Kelly Nickerson
July 18, 2016
How Chronic Illness Changes Our Perspective
We spend our days, our years perhaps, searching for answers, for a word that explains what’s happening in our bodies or the body of our child, our sister, our mother, our partner. We believe, we hope, we long for the word to come and bring with it perimeters, a treatment plan, hope. Surely, if someone can tell us what’s wrong,... Read morePosted in Chronic Illness and Diagnosis, Chronic Life, Parenting and Chronic Illness | By Stacey Philpot
April 27, 2016
5 Things You Need to Know About Lyme Disease
Most of what I know about Lyme I learned one of three ways: Watching Under Our Skin: The Untold Story of Lyme Disease Speaking with my Lyme Literate Physicians (LLMD) and other patients within online support groups. Living my life with Lyme disease I watched Under Our Skin for the first time while sprawled out on an oddly-shaped recliner tilted... Read morePosted in Chronic Illness and Diagnosis, chronic illness; support, insurance companies, Lyme Disease, Physicians | By Stacey Philpot
April 25, 2016
Defeating the Monster of Depression
In light of recent celebrity news, many people have weighed-in on depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Jamie at The Very Worst Missionary re-posted her “Jesus or Zoloft” blog. Brant (former Air 1 DJ) re-posted “Is Jesus Enough?” Ann Voskamp – who’s book 1,000 Gifts encourages readers to count their blessings – shared her struggle. And they aren’t the only ones. Seems like everyone is... Read morePosted in Anxiety, Chronic Illness and Diagnosis, Chronic illness and relationships, chronic illness; support, Faith, Mental Illness | By Stacey Philpot
March 24, 2016
The Good Doctor
Before I went in, I decided not to bring the entire laundry list of things that I’ve noticed or been worried about over the last decade or so. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve had a primary care physician. It’s been hard for me to know what is worth seeking medical attention for. If I just slept more, would... Read morePosted in Chronic Illness and Diagnosis, Physicians | By Stacey Philpot
March 14, 2016
Dear New Autism Mama,
Dear New Autism Mama, You’ve never met me, but I think we might know each other a little. If you come sit next to me for a bit, you’ll find we have something in common. You see, I’ve been there. It probably started with a funny feeling. I know that feeling. It almost feels like a little... Read morePosted in Autism, Caregivers, Chronic Illness and Diagnosis, Parenting and Chronic Illness | By Stacey Philpot
March 10, 2016
God Saw This Day
For most of us, life exists in the before and after. Before the call and after, before the doctor ushered us from the room and gave us the news and after before the ultrasound silenced the room with it’s stillness and after, before the text from the other woman came across his phone and after, before the crash of metal and... Read morePosted in Chronic Illness and anxiety, Chronic Illness and Diagnosis, Chronic Illness and Pain, Chronic illness and relationships, Faith, Love, Marriage | By Stacey Philpot
March 7, 2016
I Know More Than You Do
I really appreciate doctors. They are active scientists, trying to discern what is really going on in the complexity of the human body. They spent many years getting educated in this area and genuinely want to help and solve problems. They also (the best ones) have learned how to be comforters and supporters. One of my best friends is a... Read morePosted in Chronic Illness and Diagnosis, chronic illness; support, Physicians | By Jessica Wolfe