FIGHT LIKE A WARRIOR September 2019 Newsletter |
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WEGO Health Awards - 2019 Winner Best in Show: Community We are incredibly honored to have received this recognition of our efforts in creating an online community and facilitating important conversations about health. This award celebrates the inclusive, diverse, open space everyone in our community helps to create! From the patients to the caregivers, the medical professionals, the advocates, the ambassadors, and the immensely dedicated volunteers on our team - this is an appreciation of YOU! Thank you for being part of Fight Like A Warrior, for offering your unique voices and perspectives, for being part of our awareness and advocacy efforts, and for helping us unite and empower warriors around the world. We wouldn't be here without you! | | |
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Chronic Pain Awareness Month - September Chronic Pain Project @fightlikeawarrior September was Chronic Pain Awareness Month and Fight Like A Warrior launched the Chronic Pain Project! We had over forty-five warriors participate in our challenge to raise awareness for chronic pain and to let the world know how they fight back! Warriors printed out our pre-made sign, made signs of their own, posted pictures from hospital rooms, dorm rooms and across oceans! We were excited to see our community come together for a single cause. To see a collection of more of the warriors who participated, click here or watch our Chronic Pain highlight on our Instagram! |
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National Fitness Day - September 26 Featured: Zoe @activelyautoimmune Thank you to Zoe from @activelyautoimmune for taking over our story for #NationalFitnessDay! Be sure to check it out by clicking the button below! | | |
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Alopecia Awareness Month - September Featured: Olivia @alopeciajoy What does femininity mean to you?
When Olivia was diagnosed with Alopecia at age 15, her definition of the word changed.
"I developed alopecia right in the middle of those “growing up” years. It was so hard to feel like the woman I was growing to be, but even though this change was hard, it’s probably the best lesson I could have gotten. As a now 19 year old young woman, I know that looks do not define your femininity or your worth. And I feel that so fully now." |
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Interstitial Cystitis Awareness Month - September Featured: Akii Ngo @adventuress.akii “Millions suffer, few understand.” - September is #InterstitialCystitis or #PainfulBladderSyndrome Awareness Month. Akii, our Global Advocacy Manager, wanted to bring awareness to this issue as someone who suffers from #Vulvadynia and Interstitial Cystitis. Bladder conditions are rarely understood or spoken about - some people may have symptoms & not even realise. "The best way to explain IC, for me, is having all the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, such as pain, burning & needing to constantly pee, without the infection and the symptoms never going away. It's terribly uncomfortable & not sexy at all." Read more >> |
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Warrior of the Month - Mandy Our amazing Warrior of the Month for September is Mandy! By day Mandy fights chronic illnesses - by night, she works as a 911 Police and Fire Dispatcher! Mandy battles Classical Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Asthma, and Chronic Migraines. Despite the challenges she faces, Mandy refuses to let chronic illness define her! She strives to bring awareness not only to the illnesses she faces, but to all conditions! | | |
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Ambassador of the Month - Morgan (@medically.morgs) Morgan has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. EDS has completely changed her life is amazing ways and not so amazing ways. She was born 3 months early (@ 28 weeks) and was also a competitive gymnast for many years. Morgan is an amazing advocate for others with chronic illness! |
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Meet Our New Advocacy Team! Meet Patty Alcala- Patient Advocacy Manager "Hello all of you amazing people! Unlike the majority of you, I have not been diagnosed with a chronic disease. The reason that I do what I do is to honor my son's life. He had several challenging diagnoses and fought every day to live his best life. I am a retired Physician Assistant and have been in the medical field for my entire adult life. Now it is my privilege to work on my nonprofit for children with chronic and complicated medical issues and their families." (Read more >>) | | |
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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! In September we sent 13 cards to warriors in 5 states in the US, and England, Ireland and Poland! Keep fighting everyone! |
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