Chronically Connected – How The Chronically Ill Form Relationships Online

By Jenny Pettit

It’s virtues are extolled: immediate access to information, improved work/life balance by working from home, and the ability to connect with others around the globe at a minimal cost.

It’s also accused of great evils: removing the need for face-to-face communication, facilitating white collar crime, and leading to the muscular atrophy of an entire generation. What else could have this affect but the World Wide Web!

While it’s true, the internet can and is used for the “wrong” reasons and with bad results, the same can be said of religion, airplanes, or freedom of the press. What’s the common link among these ideas and inventions? They ultimately become tools in the hands of human beings – well-intentioned but imperfect Mankind.

But just as religion gives billions of people a framework for life, airplanes deliver food and supplies to disaster zones, and free press led to the birth of our nation, the internet gives millions the resources we need to improve our lives in ways never before imagined. It would have taken our unplugged ancestors a generation or two (or more) to assemble – let alone process – the volumes of information we can now find and search in just a few seconds.

This access is wonderful, and a gift I make use of many times each day. However it is not, perhaps, the greatest gift the internet provides.

Humans are social creatures, hard-wired to need interaction with others – also known as a ‘community’. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and use that powerful internet search tool to read about otherwise healthy babies who die in understaffed orphanages for lack of touch or how solitary confinement causes psychophysical distress by denying human interaction. Or, check out this scholarly article about the science underlying this phenomenon.

We seek to be both one of a million and one in a million; that is, we want to be simultaneously reassured we belong and that we are unique persons whom no one could replace. But we wouldn’t know if either goal were met without KNOWING and RELATING TO other people!

And so we join clubs then seek a leadership role, attend block parties and talk about our latest vacation, or play a team sport and dream of being named MVP. For the chronically ill, I’ve found that this mindset takes on a very specific form.

We want to find others with the same symptoms or diagnosis as ourselves, and upon making this connection we immediately begin spouting off our personal stories, complete with symptom progressions, medications, prognosis, and views on the future.

Knowing that I am one of a million (or, in my case with Sjogren’s, one of 4 million) Americans with my diagnosis is important to me. It means information may be available about how to cope with many of the problems I face, and that it’s been around long enough for there to be data for use in framing a prognosis.

Moreover, because I know other Sjogies exist, I am guaranteed to find people I can talk to who I know will understand what I mean when I try to describe weird symptoms or processes I go through, and if they understand that must mean I belong. At the same time, finding these people reaffirms that I am still one in (four) million – we may have the same diagnosis but none of us have exactly the same experience living with it.

There’s the obvious differences – severity of symptom progression, comorbid diagnoses, or age – and less obvious ones, e.g. personal stances on specific treatments or even reactions to the same medication.

To my point, social networks or interactions are part of human nature, and take on a prime importance when people are faced with challenges. Chronically ill persons face the same challenges as the rest of society, but must also cope with their special challenges every day at the same time.

Therefore, it stands to reason that these people experience a greater need for – and find greater benefits in – social venues. And yet, social excursions often require people to do the very things that are problematic for this population. Mobility problems, unpredictible symptoms, extreme fatigue, and “brain fog” (or reduced ability to think logically) are just a few roadblocks.

When added to the plethora of ‘extras’ most of us carry (medications, comfort aides, water bottles, sweaters, joint-support paraphenalia, etc), it rarely becomes worth the effort. And to top it off, a lot of chronic illnesses and the methods used to treat them make the patient susceptible to contagious illnesses such as colds, flus, and infections. It’s a wonder we don’t all become hermits!

But, without these social connections, we are left very vulnerable in every way. Ill or not, we must have information, access to resources, and support. We all generally find a way to get to the doctor or pharmacy and meet our physical needs, but for years we simply couldn’t find a reasonable way to meet our emotional ones.

Which brings us full circle, to the World Wide Web. Now, we can find each other. Now, we can join groups and discussion boards that will fit into our schedules instead of disrupting them.

If I can’t sleep at midnight but crash out at 2 in the afternoon, I can post something at night and read someone’s response the next day without us needing to be present at the same time. Instead of being subject to the opinions and educational limitations of one doctor I find the energy to see, I can scour the web for more ideas and insight and take an active role in my care.

And even to my own surprise, I can develop REAL relationships with people I’ve never met (and probably never will). A woman undergoing chemo in Alabama is now just as important to me as people who live in my town. Another woman 3,000 miles away was the first to tell me when she found my group in a newsletter (that I don’t even receive and would never have seen on my own).

And, I hope, my stories and advice may be positively influencing someone out there who might never have even pursued treatment if they hadn’t heard that something could be done, or know that I care when the ‘real’ people in their lives turned their backs.

And so, to the many who are trying to unplug, I tip my hat and offer best wishes that they find the peace of mind connectivity may have stolen from them…and I turn, pick up my laptop and BlackBerry, and settle in to enjoy the gifts of being Chronically Connected.

When Jennifer Pettit was diagnosed at 15 and with symptoms that presented as young as two, she decided the only way to approach her new life was to embrace it. While in college at Villanova University pursuing a degree in Accounting and minor in Theology, Jen worked with the university to promote awareness of invisible illnesses among her peers and professors.

In founding the grassroots group “UII – Understanding Invisible Illnesses,” Jen seeks to promote awareness of chronic invisible illnesses as well as providing access to resources and support for both sufferers and those who suffer with them – friends and family. To connect with Jennifer and others visit her blog at www.myuiiblog.blogspot.com and/or http://groups.to/uii .

Popularity: 3% [?]

Mental Illness – The Invisible Illness We Don’t Talk About As Easily

When you think of someone who is mentally ill, do you think of someone who acts wildly, is completely ignorant of things around them, or even talks to himself? You may need to rethink your opinion of those who are mentally ill.

According to the National Alliance of Mental Illnesses (NAMI), “mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.”

Mental illness is not a sign of personal weakness, but is a devastating disorder of the brain that affects all aspects of life. Unlike other illnesses where walks are held to raise money for research or cans are set out to collect for someone’s treatment, most who suffer from mental illness suffer alone. There is a terrible stigma about mental illness in today’s society. Mental health is decades behind the rest of the health system.

Rather than seeking help with their mental illness, many hide, hoping that it will go away. They are unwilling to admit to their illness because they are frightened of society’s reaction. Those who most need support from others, aren’t able to find the support they need because of society’s view on their illness.

According to the statistics given by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in four Americans struggle with some form of mental illness. That is 56,700,000 Americans who struggle with devastating, typically invisible illnesses and who are so often stigmatized. NIMH also says that half of those people struggle with symptoms of not one, but two or more mental illnesses.

Suffering with any kind of chronic illness can slowly drain a person, wearing them down and making them more prone to depression and other mental illnesses. There is a direct physical link between experiencing chronic illness and depression.

Symptoms of depression include: feeling down or depressed, feeling sad or empty, loss of interest, weight loss or gain, change in appetite, insomnia or sleeping too much, feeling agitated or slowed down, loss of energy, feeling guilty or worthless, indecisiveness, difficulty thinking or with concentration, and suicidal thoughts. If any of these sound familiar to you, I recommend taking WebMD’s free confidential health check.  If it suggests that you may be depressed, print out the results and take it with you to your next appointment with your doctor.

Anyone who tells someone experiencing depression to “just get over it” or ignores symptoms as “only” emotions has no idea what it is like to be sick with depression. When it takes over, it is different from cancer, diabetes, or heart disease. Those may take your life or your health, but depression can affect your mind and your emotions.

I know it takes a lot of courage to ask for help for depression, but this isn’t something you should face alone. There are many options for treatment. Medication and/or counseling may work wonders for your depression. You may feel more comfortable talking with your specialist or your primary care physician at first. They can probably offer some treatment options or they may refer you to a doctor who specializes in mental health.

If you are currently having suicidal thoughts, please read this paragraph:
I know life is hard, and having an invisible illness makes things even harder, but there are many people who care about you and would be devastated if you were to do anything to yourself. There is hope! You can be helped. I beg that you reach out and talk to someone about your feelings. Though it is scary, you may need to be evaluated at a hospital. I know how terrifying the idea of this can be, but I hope that you are brave and ask for help. If you can’t talk to someone in person, call the national suicide hotline at they have trained counselors who are waiting to talk to you right now. I know how hard life is and I’ve been there before, but I believe you are worth helping.

Want to read more? Check out these sites:

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
• National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Web MD on Depression

Struggling with depression or another mental illness? Find support in Rest Ministries’ Sunroom in the group Living with Mental Illness. The group is for people who have mental illness or the family or friends of those who struggle, or anyone who wants to learn more about mental illness. I would love to know you better and to answer your prayer requests.

Amber is a 23-year-old who plans to undertake nursing school in spite of the day-to-day challenges presented by living with Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in her left arm. She loves anatomy and physiology (especially neurophysiology), is a member of pep band, and also enjoys art, cooking, and crafts if she gets a spare second (which is pretty rare). Follow her blog at Destination Normal .

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Popularity: 3% [?]

Is Autism an Invisible Illness?

Laura Shumaker recently wrote an article called, “Autism: Living with the Looks” for the San Francisco Chronicle.

I was at Barnes and Noble today and believe that I witnessed an autistic meltdown.

A father was in line with his teenage son when the woman in front of them sneezed loudly. The noise took the teenager by surprise, and he covered his ears and yelled “too loud, must leave, too loud” over and over again.

The father tried to soothe his son, but it was no use. I tried to make eye contact with the dad; I wanted to help, or at least show him some sign of support. But the two left as the eyes of curious shoppers followed them.

I remembered well the father’s desire to just disappear.

Although autism may be considered more of a “disease” or “condition” rather than an “illness” it truly falls into the area where frustrations about because the symptoms are invisible.

“I was always being told that if I just disciplined my son more he wouldn’t act so hyper,” says Sherry. “It had nothing to do with discipline. We could walk into a store and if the light above was flickering because it was going out, he would just freak out. Telling him to ‘stop’ or ‘be a big boy’ was not going to make a bit of difference. Too often people think we can talk our children out of a certain behavior, but when it comes to autism, it’s a long journey learning how to relearn how one responds to certain situations or environments.”

There are many resources and organizations where parents of children with autism can get not only tips, but also share some of the heart-ache that comes along with being a parent to a child who constantly seems to be struggling, but having the condition be invisible to most people. Autism Support Network , Autism Speaks and Autism Society of America are a few of the many organizations. Perhaps one of the greatest pats of these organizations it the support among parents. We found Hopeful Parents an inspiring web site too.

Michael E. Young, writer for The Dallas Morning News shares in his article “Parents of children with autism: We struggle alone“…

For families with children with autism spectrum disorders – a range of developmental disabilities that cause social, communication and behavioral problems – each day can be emotionally overwhelming, stress-filled and isolating.

Family and friends shy away. The child’s behavior can leave parents prisoners, trapped at home. If they venture out, passers-by stare, wondering why the child isn’t under control.

…day in, day out, many families with autistic children say they struggle on alone.”We don’t have other friends coming and offering to babysit our children,” said Clay Boatright of Plano, Texas, with wife Carole the parents of three daughters, including autistic 10-year-old twins. “They don’t have friends inviting them over for sleepovers. What we have is people saying, ‘Wow, that must be tough.’”

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Popularity: 3% [?]

Share About Your Life with Illness With Our “30 Things…” Meme

Last year hundreds of people participated in our “30 Things” Meme. We’d love to hear from you again (even if you filled out the 30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know last year, you may have some new answers this year… it will be interesting to see which ones!).

This is a great way to blog about your invisible illness too. We may say, “no one understands!” but have we really given them the chance to? Fill this out, post it on your blog or on Facebook, etc. and then let your friends and family know. You may even be surprised to find out who you know who is living silently with his or her own invisible illness.

Be sure to link up your Meme answers to our web site at the link above in the tan bar here.

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

1. The illness I live with is:
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:
3. But I had symptoms since:
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is:
5. Most people assume:
6. The hardest part about mornings are:
7. My favorite medical TV show is:
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is:
9. The hardest part about nights are:
10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
11. Regarding alternative treatments I:
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose:
13. Regarding working and career:
14. People would be surprised to know:
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been:
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was:
17. The commercials about my illness:
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is:
19. It was really hard to have to give up:
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is:
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would:
22. My illness has taught me:
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is:
24. But I love it when people:
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them:
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is:
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was:
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because:
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel:

Popularity: 18% [?]

Even a Good Cry Can Lead to Hope

Sometimes things come crashing down emotionally. I didn’t realize what an emotional toll being so ill in the hospital with a double kidney infection (on top of my chronic illness) had until yesterday. I didn’t let myself feel it in the midst of the crisis. I guess I was in survival mode. Literally.

But yesterday gave me a chance to reflect on it. I was at my regular monthly appointment with my psychiatrist (who I absolutely adore), and he was asking me the normal questions about my physical health as it affects my mental health and everything just sort of hit me. And I started to cry.

All the stress I had been burying so I could make it through the hospital stay and infection and 10 days of at home IV antibiotics came bubbling up to the surface. I didn’t shed many tears because my illness, Sjogren’s Syndrome, damages my tear production… among other things. And that made me cry harder.

And then finally dealing with my immediate past made me think about my immediate and not so immediate future. And I cried because, when living with a chronic illness, the future is so unknown and that is just plain scary. This round of IV antidepressants – Rituxan – doesn’t seem to have worked. That is enough to make me cry in itself. It is just so disappointing.

I am unsure what I should do next? Should I risk suppressing my immune system further and more potentially dangerous infections like the one I’m just recovering from and get another round? Will it even work? Should I try something even stronger? Or should I not take the risk and learn to accept my life as it is?

Is my new “normal” getting around in a wheelchair and being in pain and exhausted all the time with debilitating and life threatening symptoms? Is that how I’m going to be forever? If this is how I am at 25, what will my life be like at 50? Will I ever be independent again?

Will I need a caregiver forever? And the scariest of all… how long is forever if I continue to be this sick? Will I die from my autoimmune diseases and not with it?

But after crying this out of my system I realized I need a “new look” on many levels. Yes I have, an invisible chronic illness, but I can’t LIVE my life if I’m thinking this way all the time, so I don’t. But I did need to get it out of my system once and a while.

The rest of the time I am thankful for what I still do have. I am usually happy. I have a wonderful caregiver in whom I’d be found a great friend as well. I have the most wonderful and supportive community of online friends a girl could ask for. I have a sister who does everything she’s able to support me. A dog who loves give me cuddle therapy. My writing, creativity, faith in myself, and most importantly HOPE!

I also got myself a “new look” in a more literal sense. A new haircut and a new outfit.

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is so important to raising awareness about invisible chronic illness.

Lauren is a 25-year-old with an unusual collection of autoimmune diseases that includes arthritis, Autoimmune Pancreatitis, Autoimmune Hepatitis, Fibromyalgia, and Sjogren’s Syndrome with neurological involvement.

In her blog Novel Patient, she writes about her struggles dealing with sometimes dangerous new treatments, balancing relationships with family and friends, her difficulty adapting to life in a wheelchair due to debilitating arthritis, and most importantly her quest to maintain hope and faith in herself through it all.

She also started Novel Patient Community, a social network and free blogging platform for patients with chronic illnesses. She am also an avid scrapbooker, alternative reality gamer, and an aspiring novelist writing my first book – a coming of age story set in a dystopian future.

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Popularity: 3% [?]

Healing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: 5 Tips for Empowering Your Recovery

Let’s just get to the problem straight up: The single most challenging component of that invisible illness Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a horrible experience of powerlessness. During the original trauma you feel it, and then for weeks or months or years afterward your PTSD struggle reinforces in every moment the idea you are powerless to overcome it. But is that really true?

Survivors are tough. They have, after all, survived something challenging. This means they have courage, determination, creativity and resources. The problem is that in the PTSD fog it’s easy to forget the innate capabilities you have to heal.

While all traumas are individual the PTSD experience is universal. Whether you survived a theater of war, violent sexual assault, childhood abuse, domestic violence, freak accident or medical drama the aftermath is the same: Functionally debilitating flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, insomnia, anxiety, rage, hyperarousal, hypervigilance and emotional numbing.

The good news is you are not destined to live this way forever. It is fundamentally possible to heal PTSD and go on to live a joyful, productive life. First, however, you need to take back your power. Healing begins and ends with your own ascension back to the powerdome. In healing this means taking control of the healing process, participating in it and being responsible for it.

The following five tips will jump start any mental health recovery process. As they focus on taking back your power both in your communication and connection with yourself and with those around you, these five actions will move you from a position of powerless to powerful.

1 – Intention: You can’t heal if your focus is scattered.
It’s time to be very specific about your healing desire. This means approaching the healing journey methodically and with well planned outcomes. The more you imagine and plan your success the more you will become able to achieve it. What do you want? Be very specific in how you visualize the end result of your healing, plus each step you plan to take. Make a plan, follow through. Healing is like any other goal, it must be worked at with deliberate dedication.

2 – Education: Knowledge is power.
The more you know about what ails you the more intentional you can be in fixing it. Understanding PTSD symptoms, how and why they function, plus what and when you need for healing helps you devise a better game plan for action.

3 – Connection: Support during healing is key.
PTSD recovery is a tough goal and you’ll need the support of yourself and others you can depend on. Building a support network can be a critical element in the healing process. This includes family, friends, colleagues and practitioners who are devoted to helping you evolve. You are strong, yes, and it’s always nice to have extra reserves of strength from those around you.

4 – Communication: Part of healing means being able to tell yourself and others what is wrong, why it is wrong, when it all went wrong, who was involved and how you feel.
It’s tough to talk about trauma but healing begins and reaches deeper levels when you develop language and vocabulary. Communicating allows you to pinpoint what part of the PTSD process is really driving you; from there you can develop a plan for healing that is direct and effective.

5 – Commitment: PTSD healing doesn’t happen overnight.
Despite the difficulties that ensue and the challenges that arise you must give 100% of yourself and never waver. There will be good days and bad ones but your oath to heal at all costs must remain strong. Doubt has no place in healing. You must commit to the idea and then follow through despite all obstacles.

The major crux of healing mental illness lies in your ability to imagine a better self and then work hard to get there, no matter how much symptoms and chronic illness bog you down. By empowering your recovery with these easy steps you begin the process of placing the strategy and resources for healing squarely in your own lap – exactly where they should be.

The brain likes to learn. Give it options. It wants new things to think and see and contemplate. Feed it with self-empowered healing thoughts and actions and your healing will progress one day at a time.

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is a proactive way to unite the entire community of those struggling to heal (and their loved ones) so that they learn tips, tools and tricks to ease the coping and recovery process.

Michele Rosenthal is a trauma survivor, PTSD healing coach and the founder of Heal My PTSD, LLC, an organization that advocates for PTSD awareness, education, treatment and self-empowered healing. She is a licensed practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

Popularity: 4% [?]

10 Ways to Make Your Invisible Illness Visible

When you were a kid, did you ever play with invisible ink? Maybe it was from a science kit, or perhaps you made your own with lemon juice and read the hidden words over a candle. It was mysterious and secretive – and loads of fun.

Unfortunately, unlike magic ink, invisible illness doesn’t came with oh’s and ah’s of glee. But just as revealing a message written in invisible ink can start waves of giggles, revealing your own chronic illness can start waves of benefits.

In honor of Invisible Illness Week 2009, I’d like to discover ways to make invisible illness visible.

Why?

Letting others see and know about your invisible illness can have many benefits, including:

1. Educate others, to help them better understand both you and others with invisible illness
2. Let others provide assistance, to share the burden of illness, and to decrease isolation
3. Decrease stigma, misunderstanding, and fear
4. Rally support for those with illness, and help work to cure illness and decrease suffering

Here are 10 ways to make invisible illnesses more visible:

1. Share a bit of info about your illness with a friend at an appropriate time.

2. Ride in a charity bike ride, walk in a walk-a-thon, or join a fundraiser for your illness.

3. Start a blog about your illness and what helps you cope.

4. Contribute to a national organization which educates about your illness.

5. Sponsor someone for a charity bike ride, walk or fundraiser for their illness.

6. Put information pamphlets about your illness in your place of work, if allowed, or where you shop, where you do yoga, etc.

7. Write an article for your local paper about your illness during an illness awareness month. For example, September is Pain Awareness Month – find out what month highlights your illness.

8. Write to your senators or representatives when a bill comes up about your illness. National organizations often have email alerts calling for you to contact your congresspeople at crucial times.

9. Wear a bracelet about your illness and share a few words about your experience when people ask you what the bracelet is about.

10. Share your story of hope through the national website about your illness.

These are just some of the ways you can help make invisible illness more visible and reap the benefits of doing so. And you don’t even need lemon juice!

What other ways can you think of or what have you done? Please share them in the comments!

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is needed to help make invisible illness more visible.

What one will you try today?

The blogger at How to Cope with Pain is a psychiatrist who specializes in pain medicine and who has experienced pain herself. She works with patients to help them decrease pain as much as possible, and to live fully despite pain.

* Photo courtesy of Robbie Gates

Popularity: 2% [?]

20 Things Not to Say to an Ill Person

People have good intentions when they say things to someone with an illness, but it comes out all wrong. #iiwk10

Join us for 20 tips in 20 days on what NOT to say to someone who is ill – Please RT! #iiwk10

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#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #1 – You look so good today! – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #2 – You just need to get out of the house more – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #3 – If you stop thinking about it, the pain will go away – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #4 – You should just pray harder – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #5 – You must not want to get better if you won’t try this – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #6 – When I was your age I didn’t have the luxury of being sick – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #7 – You’re sick again?? – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #8 – I wish I could just sit around all day – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #9 – No pain, no gain! – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #10 – I’d be sick too if I saw doctors as much as you do – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #11 – I have this juice that is working wonders… – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #12 – You must still have sin in your life – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #13 – If you got a job you’d have something else to think about – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #14 – Your illness is caused by stress – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #15 – You can’t be in that much pain. Maybe you just want attention – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #16 – What have you done to make God so mad at you? – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #17 – There are easier ways to get attention – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #18 – It’s not good for your kids to always hear you whining – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #19 – When are you going to get rid of that cane? – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

#iiwk10-Things NOT to say to an ill person #20 – I’m so glad to see you out and about feeling all better – see more http://ow.ly/eYpo

Popularity: 13% [?]