A quiet corner for chronic pain
Keeping you company in the moments you feel betrayed by your body or trapped in your mind
Too many of us fight for our health, feeling utterly alone
When you're stressed sick by daily life or managing chronic illness and feel like no one really understands, you have a big sister here who does.
My name's Maggie, and I've lived with chronic disease pain for over 20 years. Living with chronic pain or illness isn't like healing a broken leg or being sick with the flu. When friends or coworkers ask if you're "feeling better yet," it can be difficult to explain that you're not.
And that "healed" might not be 100% accurate.
Healthcare advocacy inspired by chronic pain patient & friend, Luigi Mangione
![Image Credit: [Steph] Illustration of Luigi Mangione smiling](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/679bef8bf7792a346b85b6ea/4fcce329-dba5-4e16-b1d5-cda15211ea04/Luigi+Mangione+Sketch.jpg)
“How do you live in pain…every day?” my friend Luigi asked me, genuinely stunned
Standing around the kitchen counter, I was sharing about my +20 years as a chronic illness patient – all the doctors, ER visits, tests, treatments.
As we bonded over our shared experience of living in chronic pain, we found in each other a friend who didn't need explanations to understand (and who appreciated the healing power of a cotton candy sunset).
Our conversations revealed something I'd been feeling for years: too many of us are fighting these battles alone, even when surrounded by people who love us but can't quite grasp the weight we carry daily.
This healthcare advocacy project exists for everyone who's ever felt this isolation. Felt stressed sick.
Whether you're newly diagnosed, decades into your journey, or supporting someone you love, here you’ll find:
Healthcare and patient advocacy strategies learned through necessity
Resources for patients and caregivers
Mindfulness and meditation practices I’ve used with chronic illness
A “big sis” perspective on resilience without toxic positivity
The project is dedicated to friends I already know, like Lulu, and to the people I have yet to meet and call friends, including our loved ones and caregivers.
Because sometimes the most healing thing is knowing you're not alone.
Your friend,
from my journal
