Chronic Illness

/Chronic Illness

How I Beat the Odds and Survived Septic Shock

Andrew Jablonski: The Mighty Contributing Partner June 2nd, 2017 "I never imagined I might die from my own illness and its deadly side effect. I came close to that happening." https://themighty.com/2017/06/short-bowel-syndrome-surviving-septic-shock/

Calling Parents, Children, and Teens with SBS!!!

Dear SBSF Member,   Are you a parent, child, or teen? We would like to invite you to help us support the development of a new SBS patient-reported conclusion survey for patients diagnosed with short bowel syndrome (SBS) in the pediatric ages. We encourage the parents to fill out the survey as a proxy to [...]

A Cure For Sepsis

EVMS Magazine 2016-2017 Issue 9.4 Doug Gardener Dramatic improvement seen in patient survival in ICU; Chance discovery could transform care of sepsis and save millions of lives worldwide NORFOLK, VA (March 23, 2017) – A critical-care physician at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) believes he has found something that has eluded medicine for centuries: a [...]

Online Support Groups to Follow

61% of Americans turn to the internet for medical advice. while there is an abundance of healthcare information on the internet, many patients look for something more, such as an emotional connection. These connections are found through online support groups. In fact 1 in 5 online users have gone to the internet for support for [...]

The Isolation Cycle of Depression and Anxiety

By Jacob Durn Throughout life’s miseries, accidents, awkward moments, mistakes and nearly all social situations, I have the burning desire to scream this into the faces of all those around me: Why do I have to live like this?  Read More

The Hard Truths About Life With Mental Illness

By Kalie Menge Almost every day now, I convince myself recovery is a pipe dream. I see where I’ve been, I see where I am and I see how many millions of miles away recovery is. I know it’s not getting any closer. I’m not getting any better. I’m getting worse, and I’ve been getting [...]

To the College Students Who Ask If I’m OK

By Kate Rusmiselle I’m doing more than OK, because I have friends who accept me as who I am and I continue to meet people who will. A lot of people have done so with no questions asked. When friends do ask why I am the way I am, it is out of genuine curiosity [...]

I Am Not My Depression, I Am My Fight

By Liz I. I try to look at it through a logical lens. What is the science behind it? From that perspective, I would have to say it is an illness. Its cause is likely multifaceted. So my depression boils down to a list of symptoms. But does it make a difference when some of [...]

When a Woman Saw My Wheelchair and Asked ‘What Did You do to Yourself?’

By Kayla Shuch A woman who noticed I was in a wheelchair looked at my cast and asked, “What did you do to yourself?”I wanted to slap her in the face and gave a glare as to say WTF? I didn’t do anything to myself. My parents understood my reaction and explained my situation. This experience has become one of the [...]

What an Autistic Shutdown is Like for Me

Authored by: Samantha Craft In my day-to-day living, I seek out the familiar. Because the familiar doesn’t need to be analyzed. And in that there is ultimate refuge for me. Familiarity can come in multiple shapes and sizes — in a predictable routine, a familiar voice or face, a soothing melody, a favorite movie or [...]

Do You See Me, or My Disability?

By Brooks Fitts The next time you see someone with a disability, I want you to try something revolutionary. Instead of staring at them and wondering why they walk or talk a certain way, go up to them and truly make an effort to get to know them. You might just be surprised at what [...]

Inside the Mind of a Chronically Ill Person Debating If They Should Post on Facebook

By Jennifer Steidl At first all the people in your life are supportive, but as time goes on and you don’t get better, and you have seen this specialist, and that specialist and tried every suggestion of every caring friend from acupuncture, to massage, to “this amazing doctor that helped my friend who had the [...]

Why I Won’t Sugarcoat My Family’s Medical Challenges on Facebook

By Stephanie Rasmon I share these things because this is who we are. I can’t, nor will I, sugarcoat our lives because that is not our reality. I can’t apologize for using Facebook for its purpose of connecting to loved ones, friends, and bringing strangers together. I suppose I could not share our challenges and [...]

To the Parent Who Helped Encourage My Son With a Disability

By Stephanie Rasmon As he finished his episode of frustration and we slowly made our way to the ramp, we met you and your daughter walking down the ramp. As a bit of encouragement for my son, I pointed in your direction and said “See! That’s where we go to go play.” Without any hesitation, [...]

When They Wheel Your Child Back for Surgery

By Elise Free The anesthesiologist comes in. He asks the questions you know by heart. You run through the list of prior surgeries and procedures and sense for a moment a look of sadness in his eyes. He knows women like you. Mothers like you. They are all the same, listing like groceries, their child’s [...]