Carrying Super Rachel – The Logistics of When Your Wife Is Chronically Ill

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By Matt Horne Caring for a chronically ill wife is not what I had envisioned when I was working up the nerve to ask out "that hot girl" who would later become my wife. We were in college and she was on the cross country team. She let me know very early on in the relationship that she had a chronic illness. Nowadays, it's just part of life. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't know what to do with myself if she were well. There's a reason I call her "Super Rachel." On her good days, she can run circles around me--cleaning, getting things checked off her to-do list, and having tons of fun. She's amazing. On top of that, she has the greatest attitude and rarely lets her condition get her down. As her dad says, she's an "overcomer." Instead … [Read more...]

Love Endures When Your Spouse is Ill

In the process of loving someone with a chronic illness, we often feel a recurring pang of grief and fear that overshadows the happy moments of our lives. Because the shadow never lifts completely, we must depend on the healing power of love when medical science has no answers. I have come to understand that love endures when it is based more on friendship, respect and commitment than on romance. Such love carries with it a sense of belonging, a feeling of home. Couples who deeply love each other become so interwoven that it is difficult to tell where one stops and the other begins. They think alike, talk alike, even begin to look alike. As one devotes one's self to caregiving and weathers the storms of illness and recovery, you … [Read more...]

Talking to Our Spouse About Our Illness: How Much is Too Much?

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For married couples who have to cope with one or both spouses having a chronic illness, communication is vital. Yes, you should be able to share about your aches and pains, but how much illness talk is too much? It feels like I'm laying on thumb tacks," I tell my husband as he crawls into bed beside me. "But there is nothing there! I feel so bruised." "I'm sorry," he offers with a sympathetic voice, but there is little else he can do. "I feel kind of nauseous too," I say. "I wonder if I should get something to eat. . . But then that might upset my stomach. It's must be the drugs. I'm sure it will pass." As I finish my sentence he's snoring away. For many of us, our spouse is our best friend. If our relationship is good, we want to … [Read more...]

Share Your Stories for Lisa’s Christian Mom w/ Illness Book

Are you a Christian mom with a chronic illness who has kids under 10... or just remembers having kids under 10? If so, you may want to consider adding your input to my new book for chronically ill Chistian moms! If you sign up for this "group" Christian Moms with Illness Book Team you will only be notified of what I am looking for for the book: example, anecdotes, advice, your stories, etc. Your replies will not be public, & this is not a group where you will send emails to other members. It's just a "tool" to be able to reach you & I will let you know if your suggestions make it into the book! I am also looking for moms who also have the illness but may be the caregiver for someone else, moms with illness who have ill kids, … [Read more...]