FIGHT LIKE A WARRIOR July 2020 Newsletter |
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The 8th Annual WEGO Health Awards Nominations are OPEN! Voting closes July 31st, 2020! We are so honored to be nominated for the multiple #WEGOHealthAwards! It always means the world to our team to hear about how our work is making an impact in the lives of the members of our community and their families. Thank you for your support! If our work has touched you or someone you love, please consider endorsing us here: https://www.wegohealth.com/fightlikeawarrior You can click below to nominate other patient advocates! There are so many incredible patients and caregivers sharing their stories, elevating the voices of others, and working to make positive change! | | |
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Turn on AmazonSmile in the Amazon app to generate donations! |
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Looking for a FREE & EASY way to support our mission to unite, empower, & advocate for those battling chronic illnesses? When you shop using AmazonSmile & select Fight Like A Warrior as your charity of choice, Amazon donates a portion of your total to our organization with no cost to you! |
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It can take years for those with chronic illnesses to receive a proper diagnosis. During that time, many find themselves dismissed and told their symptoms are "all in their head", while they continue on the quest for answers. We cannot push aside those who still haven't found answers. We cannot dismiss patients who do not have straightforward diagnoses. You can be chronically ill without a diagnosis. **Data from July 2020 Fight Like A Warrior Instagram survey** |
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Tips for Living Well, Unwell I often write about how hard I find living with my illnesses is. I have Fibromyalgia, PMDD and many off the back symptoms such as allodynia and vitamin deficiency as well as sometimes crippling anxiety. Days are often long and nights longer, and sometimes I worry that life will pass me by whilst I’m stuck in a haze of painkillers and panic attacks. I often feel guilty about how I portray myself during a flare. I write a lot of blogs and use social media as an outlet, but I’d be lying if I said I felt 100% comfortable talking about my illness. It’s uncomfortable because you know despite your best efforts to explain, people are uncomfortable reading and hearing about it. They don’t get it, until they get it. | | |
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Warrior of the MonthShelbi Shelbi suffered Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) in November 2019 and has had four surgeries since with the fourth as recent as June 29th. CES occurs when the nerve roots at the base of your spine are compressed and disrupt motor and sensory function to parts of your body like your bladder or legs. Due to the CES, Shelbi was diagnosed with Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type 2. This causes her to be in constant pain in her foot, calf, knee and recently it has spread to her left hand and wrist as well. Shelbi has been fighting without being able to spend time with her nieces and nephews who light up her world because of COVID-19 and quarantine requirements for surgeries. Despite all of this, she has made masks and donated them to people who have needed them. | | |
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Episode 3 of the official Fight Like A Warrior Podcast is LIVE! Join our Podcast Producer Jaelin Taylor - @jaemikaetay and Clorinda Walley, President of @gooddaysorg for a conversation about getting involved with #ChronicDiseaseDay! Jaelin and Clorinda talk about how and why Chronic Disease Day was created, as well as the importance of raising awareness. This episode hits on so many important issues from treatment costs to how one diagnosis truly impacts every individual differently. Clorinda is an #ulcertivecolitis warrior and talks about her personal story, her search for answers, learning that it's okay to ask for help, and how her personal experiences inform her work. Take a listen! | | |
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Cards for Warriors Thank you so much for reading Fight Like A Warrior's monthly newsletter! Because of your support, our organization has been able to create an incredible community of chronic illness warriors who prove every single day that #SickFightsBack. If you know a warrior that could use a little extra support & encouragement, remember to request a card for them! Keep fighting everyone! |
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