Prize Giveaway - Editing Services

We would love to give this prize away! Is it something special you are needing? If you are interested in this prize, please add your email contact below. The first person to post wins the prize!

Professional Editing Services for your business, blog, or job-searching ventures.  Lisa Fineberg  has worked for nonprofits, universities, and political campaigns.  She also writes her own blog - http://newkneesforlisa.blogspot.com. She is donating 3 hours of editing for business writing or a blog tailored to the winner’s needs; or a comprehensive project such as a resume and cover letter makeover combo. Your choice!

Do you need editing help with your business writing? Personal or professional blog? A resume revamp or cover letter for your job search?  This editing goes beyond the usual red pen treatment, down to the nitty gritty for style, content and flow.   Lisa will work directly with you to give your writing the polish it needs - and deserves!

Limit 1 prize per person please

Popularity: 3% [?]

Sept is Pain Awareness Month

With our focus and planning for Invisible Illness Week we sometimes forget to mention that September is also Pain Awareness Month.

You will wnat to take a few minutes to go by the web site of American Pain Foundation and see all the exciting things they are offering such as a the launch of the Conquering Pain Together project and a a five-episode, Web-based series called the Let’s Talk Pain Show

Pain Community News is APF’s quarterly newsletter and is always full of information you should know about. Now, Pain Community News is available as an e-publication, so readers can just virtually flip through its pages.

Their web site states:

The fall issue of the newsletter is chock full of inspiring stories and helpful information including the creative and tireless efforts of advocates honoring Pain Awareness Month, 10 things you can still do to help make a difference in September, pains not to ignore, easing immunization pain, fast facts on acute back pain and much more! To receive print copies of Pain Community News in the future, please be sure we have your mailing address by registering as an APF member. Remember to encourage friends, family, colleagues and neighbors to join too - there is power in numbers, let’s work together to improve pain care in America.

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Popularity: 6% [?]

Thanks for a Wonderful Week!

Special thanks to all who participated this week! And guest what? If you didn’t, it’s A-okay, because all of the programs are archived and you can listen any time.  We will post links to specific programs over at our Rest Ministries site in coming week, but for now, just got to Blog Talk Radio at our Invisible Illness Week Account and you can choose from any of the programs this week or last year.

Here are a few quick things to know about!

Prizes

We will be randomly choosing prize winners and announcing them here on our web site next week. All you need to do to be eligible is to have posted somewhere. We’ll be choosing from people who registered over at Bloogers Unite, people who blogged about II Week, people who commented on blogs, people who Tweeted, Re-tweeted or posted on Facebook. People who join our Facebook Cause page or our Facebook Fan Page.

MP3 Players!

We have 3 to give away. Between now and Sunday night 9/20/09 at midnight, you can be eligible to win an MP3 player. One will be given away to a random person who:

• Makes any purchase at the Rest Ministries Bookstore, ChronicIllnessBooks.com
• Makes a donation (tax deductible!)
  
• Sign up to receive email updates from the Rest Ministries web site when we update it with articles, Q/A and more! (See Rest Ministries site here)

One winner will be drawn from each of these areas fora 2GB MP3 Player.

Blogs

Thank you to all of the people who have blogged about Invisible Illness Week. or done our meme. You have created an entire new level of awareness out there about invisible illnesses! Be sure to visit the sites of some bloggers here at our web site in the comments section and here at Bloggers Unite!

And don’t forget to read some of the blog posts of people who were Guest Bloggers here at our very own Invisible Illness Week web site.

Our Meme

It spread through Facebook, Twitter and more online thanks to your participation! Read people’s memes “30 Things You May Not Know About My Invisible Illness” here.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Citizens For A World Free From Chronic Pain Giving Away Ebooks For Invisible Illness Awareness Week

Rome, Italy (PressExposure) September 15, 2009 — In honor of National Pain Awareness Month and Invisible Illness Week (September 14-20), Citizens for a World Free From Chronic Pain is giving away 500 free e-version copies of Forever Free From Chronic Pain by chronic pain elimination expert, Prof/Dr. Brian Rothbart.

Chronic Pain, an often invisible illness, is one of the biggest health issues facing the United States today. According to the American Pain Foundation, more people suffer from chronic pain than cancer, diabetes and heart disease combined. Studies also show that chronic pain is the leading cost of medical care in the United States and cases of chronic pain have risen as much as 38% in the last twelve years.

Citizens for a World Free From Chronic Pain (CWFCP) is a group created to inform the millions of chronic pain sufferers worldwide that theydo not have to accept drugs or ongoing pain management as the only solution.

The book being gifted, Forever Free From Chronic Pain, outlines a drug-free, surgery-free option for the permanent elimination of many types of chronic muscle and joint pain.

“I wrote this book specifically for the chronic pain sufferer” says author Prof/Dr. Rothbart. “It’s about helping people understand how their body works and the source of their chronic muscle and joint pain so they make informed choices about how to deal with it.”

Prof/Dr Brian Rothbart, internationally recognized chronic pain expert and pioneering researcher and physician, discovered the previously unknown source of chronic musculoskeletal pain and invented an innovative therapy which eliminates it without the use of drugs or surgery.

About Citizens for a World Free From Chronic Pain

To learn how to receive a free ebook and to learn more about Citizens for a World Free from Chronic Pain, please visit: http://bit.ly/16cJsX

To learn more about the book, Forever Free From Chronic Pain, please visit: http://www.foreverfreefromchronicpain.com

To learn more about international chronic pain expert Prof/Dr. Brian Rothbart: http://www.rothbartsite.com

To learn more about National Invisible Illness Awareness Week:
http://www.invisibleillnessweek.com/

Popularity: 7% [?]

Invisible Illness Week Seminars on iTunes

Visit ITunes and download the Invisible Illness Week seminars for free on your ipod.

Now you can listen to them on your MP3 player, ipod, etc. Great while going for a walk or when you are stuck in bed.

Popularity: 9% [?]

First Invisible Illness Week Seminar Starts Today at 9 AM Pacific Time

This morning we will kick off our virtual conference at 9AM pacific talking with Georgia Shaffer about how we deal wit difficulties in different ways.

To listen go to www.invisibleillnessconference.com and if the show has started you will hear it. If it’s not quite 9 AM you will hear it when it starts. You can also listen to archived versions later.

I hope you will join me in this exciting annual outreach event of Rest Ministries–and pray for me too–as i am hosting all 20 shows and know I need STRENGTH.

It will be a fun week. Please drop in for a seminar and tell a friend!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Christian Illness Ministry Sponsors 5-Day Virtual Conference Online

SBWIRE – SEPT 14, 2009 / Nearly 1 in 2 people in the USA live with a chronic illness and about 96% of these illnesses are invisible.* Rest Ministries, Inc., the largest Christian organization that serves the chronically ill, and an affiliate of Joni Eareckson Tada’s International Disability Ministry, is encouraging those with illness, friends, family, caregivers, and churches to get involved in their annual outreach, National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 14-20, 2009.

In addition to churches having outreach events for those with chronic conditions, Rest Ministries organizes a 5-day free virtual conference with 20 seminars that can be attended via one’s computer and computer speakers. Seminars are on a variety of topics including marriage, parenting, starting a business, how to apply for disability and more—all when you live with a chronic illness. The seminars are held via Blog Talk Radio and listeners can call in through their phone line with questions.

Well known Christian authors who will be presenting include:

• Bill and Pam Farrel, best-selling authors; The Marriage Code (Harvest House, 2009)
• Naomi Kingery, author of Sugar Free Me (Xulon Press, 2008)
• Dena Dyer, author of Mothers of the Bible (Barbour Publishing, 2009)
• Georgia Shaffer, author of How Not to Date a Loser (Harvest House, 2008)
• Joanna Faillace, Certified Biblical Health Coach an author of Super-Naturally Healthy Families Cookbook Devotional
• Lisa Copen, author of Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend (Rest Publishers, 2008)
• Maureen Pratt, author of Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness (Galilee Trade, 2005)
• Jennifer Saake, author of Hannah’s Hope: Seeking God’s Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage and Adoption Loss (NavPress, 2005)
• Marcia Ramsland, author of Simplify Your Life (Thomas Nelson, 2004)
• Jolene Philo, author of A Different Dream for My Child (Discovery House Publishers 2009)

Lisa Copen, 40, founder of Rest Ministries says, “Many Christians may have a solid walk with the Lord, but the emotional rollercoaster of a chronic illness and its constant progression can leave them feeling alone and misunderstood. They are hanging on by a thread and being told they look fine and should just make themselves get up and go to church only adds to the isolation and bitterness of others ‘not getting it.’ The emotional scars can be harder to cope with than the actual illness.”

Copen, who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia since the age of twenty-four, ended up in the hospital for a week last fall fighting off the flesh eating bacteria in an ankle wound. We never know what the next day will hold,” she explains. “It is so important that there is good communication between those who are ill and their loved ones, as well as the church body.”

Did Copen’s circle of friends and church come through for her? “It was an enlightening experience,” she says. “Although I teach others to ask for help, I found out how difficult it is. And then when I did ask for help, I experienced what it is like when you fall through the cracks and everyone thinks someone else is providing both the practical support as well as emotional encouragement.”

Rest Ministries extends their outreach about invisible illness awareness to churches, providing materials to start up HopeKeepers groups, books, cards, tracts, etc. About 96% of those with illness may appear perfectly healthy on Sunday mornings, but may struggle to get out of bed the remainder of the week.

Ken Chambers, Director of Church Relations at Joni and Friends International Disability Center, says, “It is vital that Christians understand the emotional and spiritual trials of those with invisible disabilities, as well as those with visible disabilities. I encourage church leaders to take advantage of the wealth of resources at Rest Ministries and to participate in the National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, which they sponsor annually.”

One can get involved by joining the hundreds of bloggers who are writing about illness in the next few days, by joining the cause on Facebook, and most especially, by tuning in for the conference. All seminars will also be recorded and archived.

See www.invisibleillness.com for more information or www.restministries.org for the sponsor of this event, Rest Ministries.

*Source: Chronic Care in America, U.S. Census Bureau

Popularity: 11% [?]

Chronically Ill Unite September 14 to Blog About Invisible Illness Issues

Patient bloggers band together to bring awareness to invisible illness issues from handicapped parking confrontations to why they hate hearing “You look so good!”

San Diego, CA — (SBWIRE) — 09/10/2009 — Who would guess that nearly half of the U.S. population lives with a chronic illness? But according to a study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation over 133 million people have an illness or condition, most of which are invisible, and many that cause daily pain. Illnesses can range from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy to diabetes, multiple sclerosis to fibromyalgia, or painful conditions like back pain and migraines.

With 75 percent of internet users using the internet for health information (Pew Internet Project, 8/08) and many of them seeking support, thousands of bloggers now post daily journals about the emotional challenges they face with daily chronic pain.

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 14-20, 2009, invites bloggers to have a significant role in their awareness campaign. For example, part of their outreach has been featuring guest bloggers on their own web site invisibleillnessweek.com , as well as inviting bloggers around the globe to commit to blogging about invisible illness issues. To help spread the word they have also create a meme, “30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know” that people have posted on Facebook, blogs and other social networks.

Lisa Copen, who founded National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week in 2002 says, “Though our illnesses and symptoms may vary, we still have a great deal in common. We can learn from one another about coping and finding the balance of taking care of ourselves yet living life to the fullest.” Copen says patient blogs aren’t depressing like healthy people may assume. “Illness bloggers don’t typically dwell on the logistics of symptoms, lab tests, or hospital stays. Instead, they write on everyday topics and how their illness impacts their families, finances, careers. They may discuss patient advocacy issues, but they also write about vacationing with an illness or dating when you have a chronic illness.”

Invisible Illness Week was recently the host of Grand Rounds, the largest medical blog carnival on the internet.

Over 300 people have officially committed to blogging for Invisible Illness Week so far and many are sharing on their Facebook notes page or other social network. Copen encourages those who do not have a blog to shares something about their illness with Facebook friends, a few Twitter posts, or even in the comments section of the http://invisibleillnessweek.com web site.

If you would like to join this unique opportunity to blog for awareness about invisible illnesses, see http://www.invisibleillnessweek.com for details. Invisible Illness Week’s highlight is a 5-day virtual conference with 20 speakers that can be heard online for free on a topics such as marriage with illness, applying for disability, setting boundaries, and when your child is ill.

Copen is also the founder of Rest Ministries which sponsors the event and http://IllnessTwitters.ning.com for anyone who “tweets” on health or medical conditions.

Media Relations Contact

Lisa Copen
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week
858-486-4685
http://www.invisibleillnessweek.com

Popularity: 9% [?]

Wesley United Methodist Church in Morgantown, WV Offers TONS of Activites and Hope!

We just saw this posted on Facebook and although we were aware of Christina’s group beginning we had no idea just what she was planning! Pleeease don’t feel as though you must attempt to live up to what this “Super Woman” is doing, but it is a list of some fabulous ideas (Prayers at Panera!) And the next time your church says they just can’t commit to starting a HopeKeepers group or a potluck seems like so much trouble, print this out to show the pastor an example of a church that has some passion!

-ljc

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LOCAL CHURCH HOSTING ACTIVITIES DURING NATIONAL INVISIBLE CHRONIC ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK
SEPTEMBER 14 – SEPTEMBER 20, 2009

Wesley United Methodist Church, located at 503 N. High Street in Morgantown, WV, will be hosting numerous events during National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week (September 14-20, 2009). These events are open to anyone in the community who is seeking support in a Christian environment to cope with the effects of living with chronic illness, chronic pain, or disability. If you have questions, please contact Christina Werdebaugh, HopeKeepers® Group Leader, at (304) 692-9199 or Wesley United Methodist Church at (304) 292-9485.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

• SEPTEMBER 13, 2009 –Christina Werdebaugh, HopeKeepers® Group Leader, will speak briefly at both the 8:30 and 11:00 services about the upcoming weeks’ activities, and will be available after both services in the Lecture Room to answer any questions you may have. Please check the Sunday Bulletin for updates and more information about the HopeKeepers® Small Group/Bible Study as well the events planned here at Wesley, and in the community, in recognition and to raise awareness of National Invisible Awareness Week.

• SEPTEMBER 14, 2009 at 7:00 pm, is the first meeting of HopeKeepers® at Wesley! We will meet in the Lecture Room at the Church. Our first night together will begin with a special gift of music, followed by a time of fellowship to get to know one another and enjoy some light refreshments. Then, we will begin with Chapter One of our first Bible Study together entitled, “When Chronic Illness Enters Your Life” by Lisa J. Copen. This particular study discusses topics such as “Where Is God When It Hurts?” and “Lord, I Just Don’t Understand!”

• On Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 15, 2009 at 7:00 pm, Wesley will host a Prayer, Healing and Anointing Service for our HopeKeepers® Group Members and all others who desire to attend! We are extending a special invitation to the other HopeKeepers® Group in our local area, as well as the family members and caregivers of those suffering from chronic illness/chronic pain, or disability. We welcome everyone who wishes to attend this service to receive support and prayer for themselves or on behalf of another. Rev. Michael Atkinson will lead this special service which will be centered around the greatest healing of all, the reunion or reconciliation of a human being with God. Although physical healing does often occur, this worship experience provides an atmosphere in which mental and emotional balance is often restored, spiritual health is enhanced and relationships are healed. The purpose of this worship experience is to renew and strengthen one’s relationship with the living God. This service will also be filled with music during our times of prayer and outreach to those in need. Our souls, hearts and minds will be comforted by the musical offerings of Stan Farr and Joe Andria, members of our congregation, in addition to the soothing sounds of a local harpist, Katie Zucker, and a trio, Andrew and Elizabeth Wotring-Nelson and Rebecca Speakman. We are thankful to all of these musicians who come forth to share their gift of music before the Lord in support of those suffering from chronic illness/chronic pain and invisible or visible disabilities.

• On Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009, at 6:00 pm, Wesley will host a “potluck supper” at the church for our new HopeKeepers® members and their families and caregivers, as well as all HopeKeepers® Groups (and their families and caregivers) in the area. All members of our congregation and the community who wish to come and support this important ministry and outreach are welcome to attend this opportunity to share in fellowship with those needed our prayers and encouragement!

• Thursday, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009, at 7:00 pm, will be an opportunity for our new small group to meet the other local chapter of HopeKeepers® at the Morgantown Church of God located on Mississippi Street. It will be a great opportunity to fellowship with the other Hopekeepers® Group in our area.

• Friday, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009 12:30pm – 2:00 pm at the VIP Room at Panera in Morgantown, WV Wesley HopeKeepers® will host “Prayers at Panera”. We plan to meet during the day on Friday to provide an opportunity for those who may not have been able to attend some of the weeknight events due to scheduling conflicts, etc. This is also open to anyone who did attend the other events and would like to join us to enjoy some additional prayer and fellowship time as part of the HopeKeepers® Group at Wesley. Morgantown Church of God’s Chapter of HopeKeepers® is also invited to join us for “Prayers at Panera.”

• On Sunday, SEPTEMBER 20, 2009, Christina Werdebaugh, HopeKeepers® Group Leader at Wesley, will participate in the both the 8:30 and 11:00 services to offer her perspective on perseverance and keeping faith in God despite living with chronic illness/chronic pain or disability, and how we, as a church, can reach out to those suffering from chronic illness/chronic pain, invisible or visible disabilities. A punch and cake reception in honor of HopeKeepers® and II Week will be held following the 11:00 service, hosted by Christina Werdebaugh.

Contact: Christina Werdebaugh, HopeKeepers® Group Leader
(304) 692-9199 or cjes2000@hotmail.com

Wesley United Methodist Church
(304) 292-9485
503 N. High Street Morgantown, WV 26505

Additional information can also be found at www.invisibleillness.com

Popularity: 11% [?]

Meme “30 Things” Spreading - 1st Prizes Given

Wow! We’ve had such fun getting to know all of you who have filled out our Meme “30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know.” Take a moment to go and read some of the 130 comments from those who have filled out the meme (they have given their link).

And thanks to you, it’s spreading fast! We have one more week to watch it fly through cyberspace so we can let as many people with illness know about our virtual conference that begins 9/14 (next MONDAY!)

To just see how many people are getting involved click here for our Google Search for the meme (col results, huh?)

We were excited to see Laurie Edwards, author of Life Disrupted, blog about the meme and her take on some of the questions as well as trying to decide what information we want to share versus what information can be a bit personal. Be sure to visit her blog to read this enlightening post, Beyond Memes: Public versus Private. (Laurie was going to be a guest for II Week, but unfortunately had to cancel just last week because of schedule conflicts. We’ll miss you, Laurie, but we are glad that for your success that has taken up your time.)

Laurie shares:

I think it can be incredibly useful, and not just for people adjusting to sudden or adult-onset chronic illness. As I read people’s replies about what nice/surprising things others have done for them, it hit me how much of that is my normal, too. I’ve always been sick, I’ve always been surrounded by friends and family, so I have, quite literally, grown up having people respond to me with compassion, loyalty, and empathy.

Many of you have taken a moment to share your meme not only on your blog, but also on Facebook, MySpace and other social networks. It’s because of you we are finding more out about each other every day. Despite feeling like we many know the “basics” about someone, it’s always fun to read the meme to see what answers may surprise us.

We’ve randomly chosen 2 winners (that I should have posted on Saturday, but didn’t quite make it). They are:

Melanie at Melanie’s Journey - she shares that she lives with Partial Dysautonomia (often called POTS) which is a dysfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System  + ME/CFS.

The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: that I am still “me” – even though I can’t do anything that the old me was able to do!

Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: learn to paint!!! And… sell my paintings!

A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: making Medical Alert ID bracelets! First I made them for myself, then I began selling them on Etsy. I don’t make much money – just cover costs… kinda… but I love serving others who have to wear these tags! I also enjoy making new friends online (mostly artist friends)

I have also started listening to books on tape! Never thought I’d do that, but have had to adjust to the way my brain now works.

Our other winner is Nickie over at Nickie’s Nook

Here are some of here thoughts:

The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: The pain and the limitations. I once had an amazing adaptive phy-ed teacher who gave me a shirt that said “no boundaries”. That shirt meant a lot to me. This boundary is one I can’t get over by my self. From a spiritual side, I struggle with this level of illness, pain and struggles because I often feel that a loving God should not allow these things.

Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How quickly people look for ways the CRPS is my fault. I think blame is one of those things anyone might use to find some way of handling the fear that they will go through what we do. In most cases, I don’t think it’s intentional but it can still hurt.

The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: It’s honestly hard to rank those types of things. Some friends will help me get food from the cafeteria, others sit with me when the pain’s bad, my parents do a lot to help me when they can, my doctors obviously do care about me. There are way way too many to list. Some days, it’s just the person who finds me when I’ve gotten lost using my walker and carefully guides me where I need to go. I’ll also never forget a friend who came in the middle of the night and got me out of a stressful situation which was making me ill if she reads this, I think she’ll know who she is. Finally, my room mates are often there when I need them and they provide the support which can be so critical at night. One room mate got me to try popcicles which are great for when I’m nauseated from the pain.

Special thanks to both Nickie and Melanie. Both gals have won a package of the Calgon spa goodies. Please contact us with your shipping address so we can mail it out!

Popularity: 17% [?]

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