Invisible Illness Awareness Week Sponsored by Christian Illness Ministry

Contact: Lisa Copen, Rest Ministries, 858-486-4685

MEDIA ADVISORY, Sept. 8 /Christian Newswire/ — Rest Ministries, the largest Christian organization that specifically serves the chronically ill, is the sponsor of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 13-19, 2010.

Lisa Copen, 41, began Rest Ministries in 1996 following a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. “I was looking for a way to connect with others who were living with a chronic condition, for encouragement and support for what my life may hold,” says Copen.

After a few years of networking people who live with chronic conditions through online ministry and support groups in churches called HopeKeepers(R), Copen saw many people who were suffering from feeling misunderstood.

“Even those who coped the best with their physical limitations had a lot of emotions about feeling like no one understood how great the pain was,” shares Copen. “National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week was a way to be able to validate the pain people were feeling, and create more awareness overall, including in the faith communities.”

Many participants are having resource tables at their churches during Invisible Illness Week. Support groups are having community events and a lot of people are participating in online activities, including a virtual conference September 13-17 via Blog Talk Radio and blogging for the cause.

When you sign up for daily updates from InvisibleIllnessWeek.com you receive a free 80-page ebook written by Copen and other illness experts, “Chronic Illness Tips: 263 Ways to do More Than Just Get By.”

Rest Ministries provides a variety of resources and programs such as online daily devotionals one can receive via email. Copen has authored a dozen books for the ministry such as “Why Can’t I Make People Understand? Discovering The Validation Those with Chronic Illness Seek and Why.”

With nearly 1 in 2 people living with a chronic condition, about 96% of those people are suffering silently with invisible illnesses where their pain cannot be seen. Through Invisible Illness Week Rest Ministries hopes to let people know they are not alone and that someone does understand and care about their struggles.

Rest Ministries is an affiliate of Joni and Friends International Disability Center, the ministry of Joni Eareckson Tada. Copen is a popular speaker who has been a guest on TV programs such as “Heroes Among Us” and “Peace in The Storm,” and radio programs Family Radio, Joni and Friends, and Billy Graham’s Decision Today.

For information: InvisibleIllnessWeek.com.

Kevin was diagnosed with Systemic Rheumatoid Arthritis at age six and was told he would be in a wheelchair by age 20. Aside from affecting the joints, this rare form of RA also attacks the lungs, heart, liver, spleen and other internal organs. In “middle age” (his words, not ours [smile]) he still does not require a wheelchair and has survived 3 events that should have taken his life, including a near-death experience. In addition his arms were once covered in burning gas, yet not even the hair on his arms was singed. Through all the miracles, he credits God with the success in his life. You can read more about Kevin including many blog posts he has added to his page in the Sunroom.

Kevin began this group, in part, because writing has helped him to cope with issues in his own life. Sometimes it is just the process of taking time to sort through one’s feelings. At others, it redirects one’s own thought processes in a way that allows God to reveal something important.

Writing also provides a medium to teach others about chronic and rare diseases. The story, titled “The Conscientious Doctor,” in the Writing for Therapy group depicts how even medical professionals are underinformed about Systemic Juvenille Rheumatiod Arthritis. It also shows how family members sometimes underestimate what patients with chronic illness tell them. The poem by RSD Girl, titled “Sometimes Mommies Cry,” not only shares insight about RSD it also reveals a part of life many parents that have chronic illness must deal with.

We couldn’t be more happy about this because it also goes along with our National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week theme of “Each One Can Reach One.” We love the scripture 2 Corthinthians 1:3,4:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

And if by chance, writing is not your thing but art is, be sure to check out Amber’s new group “Art Therapy.”

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We know that you will find some support and understanding with these 40 or so other men that are going through similar circumstances.

In Living With Chronic Illness, by Cheri Register she says:

When the husband is the partner in the marriage with the illness, his usual role as fully involved husband, father, and provider is disrupted. The division of responsibilities that the husband and wife are accustomed to becomes unbalanced, with more and more transferred to the healthy wife.

The home is then restructured with the wife assuming her own responsibilities, the responsibilities of her sick husband, and the role of nurse too. Conflict can arise when the sick husband feels tension and frustration because he cannot function in every capacity that he once did.

Join our group for men with chronic illness, Just Men, in our Sunroom to hear more about HopeKeepers and ask questions of current leaders. This is the place to find out what’s working, what’s not and lots more.

Ministries We Like For Men

Ransomed Hearts
The ministry of John Eldredge which has some wonderful podcasts and other resources for men who are wondering, “Is this really what life is supposed to be like for me?”

Promise Keepers
Based in Denver, Colorado, Promise Keepers has directly reached more than five and a half million men since its founding in 1990. Their mission is to ignite and unite men to become passionate followers of Jesus Christ through the effective communication of seven promises to God, their fellow men, family, church and the world. Promise Keepers’ vision is simply put in three words: “Men Transformed Worldwide.”

Web Sites/Articles for Men With Chronic Illness

• The Father’s Network, Coping with Chronic Illness
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Men’s Stories
• Black Men with Chronic Pain Show Greatest Risk for Depression
• RA Guy A great blog by a man who lives with rheumatoid arthritis.

Parenting is exhausting. What do you do when you have extreme fatigue and illness dragging at you?  It is easy to tell yourself, “just one more thing” or “I’ll figure a way to make it happen.”  Then you have the pressures from our loved ones. A child not understanding why mommy can’t come out to play.  A husband who just came home from work and doesn’t understand why dinner isn’t done.

Are we failing in some way? In many ways? I sometimes think that.  I always think “I should….”  or “I could..”, “If I was super mom I would”  I call it the ‘oulds. Those things that didn’t get done that leave you feeling guilty.   Are we super women? No,  sadly we are not and despite what the TV would have you believe neither is the next door neighbor.  So revel in your lack of a cape. Let go of the guilt. The Lord has no intention of you sitting  around crying for one of the ‘oulds!

So you have fatigue problems. I do too, and it can destroy a day. While sick this past winter I was able to get from my bed to the couch. That was it.  I slept for the day. Not well, with that type of fatigue sleep no matter how much you sleep it is never enough.  I was only able to rely on  my hubby to take over the kids. When I had to tell a child that I was too tired I always hugged them and asked them to pray for me. I told them the truth, that I wanted to get up but mommy’s body was too tired.

Children can better wrap their mind around a problem if you give them a solution. I told them to pray. My children love God and believe that the Lord will heal me. That was something they could trust in.  By hugging them and letting them know that I wasn’t happy too. The situation became mommy is not sleep because she wants to but because she is sick.

Be open with your husband and  tell him how you are feeling. Don’t expect his ESP to pick up on your slumped shoulder or cough to let him know. My hubby always tells me to talk to him and try to be precise. Like are your legs jittery? For him I believe it is because he is a fixer. Present a problem and he works out a solution. Most men are that problem oriented.

Even if you are left without the energy to help with the house or other normal “wife ” duties. Try to uphold your Biblical wife duties. That is to support your husband. Be of a mild, joyful manner so that he is uplifted by your very presence.  Together a wife and husband are incredibly strong even when one is sick. Think why else would Satan be trying so desperately to destroy that which God has put together. He knows that two in Christ are ten times stronger and will grow stronger as time passes.

Chronic fatigue is a limitation but it is not an end to a quality family life.  Take time to enjoy your children. Let them know how much you can do in advance, such as mommy can play cards with you but I can’t go to the park. Talk to your husband be clear and loving. Trust that he will protect and help you through you troubled times. Uphold him so that he knows you will support and encourage him at all times. Trust in the Lord.

Heather Laurie is a christian wife, and mother to 5 children and 2 angels. She suffered with an unknown illness most of her life recently finding out she had lupus and a genetic disorder. Her children also have that genetic disorder. The Lord has led Heather and her husband Chris through these experiences to create a ministry dedicated to serving those with special needs. You can find them at www.LaurieFamilyMinistries.org or www.SpecialNeedsHomeschooling.com

Laurie Family Ministries

Grief

When in my soul bone rasps on bone the hollow ache of loss
The muffled desperation nails my spirit to the cross.
Cries swell imprisoned in my throat, the strength’s not there to scream.
I clamber nightmare days in hopeless hunger for a dream

And in the many ways I walk down low to reach the bottom stair
I hear His still small voice repeat, “Dear Child, I have heard your prayer.
Then His tiniest, but mightiest angels take the strands of what’s not there
And weave a living miracle in the mist of mourning prayer

HIS PROMISE TO ME
I will anoint your days with quiet prayer and gentle praise of Me,
Peace as lacy fragrance floating blossoms in a breeze,
Whispering perfume of grace to every eye who sees
The splendor of My Son,
Whose Light will heal you whole!
Through your many tears His Glory beams a rainbow in your soul.

Ronda Feuerstack, ©1992

_________________________________

Two Special Horses

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it.
From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse.
But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing…
Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind.
His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.

This alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.
Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.
Attached to the horse’s halter is a small bell.
It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two friends,
You’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse,
And that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk
To where the other horse is,
Trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns
To the shelter of the barn each evening,
It stops occasionally and looks back,
Making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses,
God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect
Or because we have problems or challenges.

He watches over us and even brings others into our lives
To help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse
Being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.
Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way….

Good friends are like that.
You may not always see them, but you know they are always there.
Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours.

And remember…
Be kinder than necessary-
Everyone you meet is fighting
Some kind of battle.
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly…….

And leave the rest to God!

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