Chronic Illness

Our Stories

Christina, 22

Living with a chronic illness is the hardest thing to do. For me it's really hard struggling a chronic illness while trying to be a normal 22 year old going to college and working, it's hard for me to keep up with my studies and work schedule while being in and out of the hospital and doctors offices and also on the days that I just cant get enough strength to even get out of bed.

Alesha

In light of spreading awareness for what it’s like living with chronic illness, I would like to share the impact it’s had on my life. I have been diagnosed with POTS, EDS, MCAS, PSVT,  tactile allodynia and syringohydromyelia. With these diagnoses, it makes it more difficult to do just about any task; including daily activities. When pain and fatigue don’t take over my body, I can hardly stand without blacking out or eat without getting uncomfortably bloated. I get weekly infusions through a port to keep my blood volume up. These things are only a fraction of the ways illness has impacted my life. Yes, life has gotten more difficult but I will not let it get the best of me and I wouldn’t change what has happened because if I was healthy I wouldn’t be able  to inspire and help as many people as I can now.

Niamh, 16

To be 16 and bed bound is horrible. I'm watching my life go by without me. I have so many dreams but all I can do is lay in bed and listen to podcasts. Life is too much energy. I never knew I would end up like this. We didn't know it would last this long. And now I just have an uncertain future where we don't know if I'll ever be able to show the world my true potential.

Emily, 17

Its almost like hell and heaven combined. Heaven because you get to learn so so much about pain and you get an amazing support system. You get so much knowledge about illnesses that your brain is exploding with facts, which is cool as heck. 
You get amazing people just like you who go through what you go through every day and they don't judge. They get it. But it's also hell because of the pain. The misery is horrible. The in and out of hospitals is the worst. The bills are so heavy on the heart and the pocket. But overall, would I change it if I could? Maybe. But I sure have learned a lot. and I've learned to love myself. as I am throughout all of this.

Ana, 17

Ana's story is coming soon.

B. Renee

B. Renee's story is coming soon.