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1. Being Public with Chronic Illness Since I've been open with my chronic illness, the positives of letting the world take...
2. Hospital Update I'm scared about tomorrow.  Tomorrow I have to get a feeding tube put in.  But...
3. Sjogren’s Syndrome Awareness Month As the month draws to a close, I am reminded that April is Sjogren's Syndrome...

I started scrapbooking almost two years ago now. My mom had made me a beautiful scrapbook for my Bat Mitzvah when I was 13. She promised my younger sister Danielle the same thing. But life got in the way and my sister’s Bat Mitzvah scrapbook turned into a middle school graduation scrapbook then a high school graduation scrapbook and finally a college graduation scrapbook.

As Danielle’s college graduation approached my mom still hadn’t started the scrapbook. But I figured maybe I could help. After all, I was home all day with nothing to do. It might even be fun, I figured. I had no idea I would end up loving it so much, that I would find a hidden talent, and a passion… well more like an obsession.

When all was said and done, my sister’s college graduation scrapbook became a three volume set encompassing her entire life up until that point. It was time to move on to other things, so I started in on my own life.

While going through my own pictures from the last several years, there were many pertaining to my illness. Hospital stays, doctors appointments, and so on. There was even a birthday I spent in the hospital.

At first I was hesitant to include these not so happy memories in my scrapbook. But I realized that these were experiences that I also wanted to remember. These bad times in my life are part of what makes me who I am. So I put them in.

The actual time I spend scrapbooking is therapeutic. It exercises my creative muscles and helps me relax for a few hours while I design and arrange, cut and glue, label and decorate.

It’s actually rather therapeutic to scrapbook memories of my illness. Once it is scrapbooked, it feel more concretely in the past. And it can help me look to the future. For instance, I did a page of my me taking my first few steps when I first started walking again. Now I am able to walk around a store! I can look back and remember it and see how far I’ve come!

Recent Comments:

• Victor Echo commented on Seeking an Accessible Vehicle Good luck finding the ride for your new ride NP and don't feel guilty. Get out and enjoy the wo
• amanda smith commented on Woken – a poem Awesome!
• NovelPatient commented on Being Public with Chronic Illness Thank you for sharing your story! It's inspiring to hear that if you are willing to work really
• NovelPatient commented on Being Public with Chronic Illness Wow! That is great that you have been able to write for a living! What kind of writing do you do? Th
• NovelPatient commented on 30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know Aww thank you so much! I'm doing really really well! Really happy! How have you been? ((HUGS

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Post tags: actual time, Appointment, appointments, art, arts and crafts, bat mitzvah, College, college graduation, crafts, creative muscles, Danielle, doctor, Doctors, ER, experience, experiences, future, glue, happy memories, help, high school graduation, hospital, How-To Sites, illness, Infusion, journey, last several years, Lauren, life, life got in the way, mom, novel, obsession, passion, patient, philosophy, picture, rituxan, rituxan infusion, scrapbook, scrapbook memories, scrapbook page, scrapbooker, scrapbooking, sister, walk, WALKING

I started scrapbooking almost two years ago now. My mom had made me a beautiful scrapbook for my Bat Mitzvah when I was 13. She promised my younger sister Danielle the same thing. But life got in the way and my sister’s Bat Mitzvah scrapbook turned into a middle school graduation scrapbook then a high school graduation scrapbook and finally a college graduation scrapbook.

As Danielle’s college graduation approached my mom still hadn’t started the scrapbook. But I figured maybe I could help. After all, I was home all day with nothing to do. It might even be fun, I figured. I had no idea I would end up loving it so much, that I would find a hidden talent, and a passion… well more like an obsession.

When all was said and done, my sister’s college graduation scrapbook became a three volume set encompassing her entire life up until that point. It was time to move on to other things, so I started in on my own life.

While going through my own pictures from the last several years, there were many pertaining to my illness. Hospital stays, doctors appointments, and so on. There was even a birthday I spent in the hospital.

At first I was hesitant to include these not so happy memories in my scrapbook. But I realized that these were experiences that I also wanted to remember. These bad times in my life are part of what makes me who I am. So I put them in.

The actual time I spend scrapbooking is therapeutic. It exercises my creative muscles and helps me relax for a few hours while I design and arrange, cut and glue, label and decorate.

It’s actually rather therapeutic to scrapbook memories of my illness. Once it is scrapbooked, it feel more concretely in the past. And it can help me look to the future. For instance, I did a page of my me taking my first few steps when I first started walking again. Now I am able to walk around a store! I can look back and remember it and see how far I’ve come!

Recent Comments:

• amanda commented on Scrapbooking My Illness Journey great idea! see my blog for my take on scrapbooking your illness, too! {hugs}
• Laura H. commented on Definitions: More Than Just a Novel Patient I've been thinking about what you've written here for a few days now, but I'm still s
• Selena commented on Scrapbooking My Illness Journey The story about your sister really touched my heart. I also love your scrapbook pages! Thanks or sha
• Nikki commented on Complaining About Complaining Sometimes a friend of mine will start to tell me of his or her physical afflictions or how they are
• Nikki commented on Complaining About Complaining Thanks for writing and posting this. When we are in heaven, Lauren, you and I 'will run and not

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1. Definitions: More Than Just a Novel Patient There are many things that define me a Novel Patient, mainly my collection of unusual...
2. Better Enough? I'm well on my way on the road to recovery. I've been doing more and...
3. Keeping The Faith Through my chronic illness, I have come to realize how crucial it is to have...

© Novel Patient for Novel Patient, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: actual time, Appointment, appointments, art, arts and crafts, bat mitzvah, College, college graduation, crafts, creative muscles, Danielle, doctor, Doctors, ER, experience, experiences, future, glue, happy memories, help, high school graduation, hospital, How-To Sites, illness, Infusion, journey, last several years, Lauren, life, life got in the way, mom, novel, obsession, passion, patient, philosophy, picture, rituxan, rituxan infusion, scrapbook, scrapbook memories, scrapbook page, scrapbooker, scrapbooking, sister, walk, WALKING

Chosen to attend the prestigious Riddlebane Academy, Kylie Lockmore soon learns secrets that turn her world upside-down.  From the drug her grandmother invented to control the populace to the missing sister she never knew she had, Kylie is forced to question the truth and decide where she stands.

As I’ve been writing this novel I’ve been thinking lately about how I define myself.  So much of my life revolves around and is affected by my illness that it can sometimes feel that that is all I am.  But that is not how I want to be defined.  I am more than a sum of doctors appointments and hospital stays, symptoms and side effects, walkers and wheelchairs.  There are so many other things that define me.  And it occurs to me how important it is that I remember that.  I am a creative thinking feeling being.  I am a graphic and web designer, a scrapbooker, a novelist.  I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, a child of God.  I am so much more than just a “Novel Patient”.

But how do others see me?  Do they see just a “sick girl” with a walker?  Or do they see the real me?  I think that the more I define myself as I want to be defined the more people will see the me I want them to see.  If I focus on being a patient that is what will define me.  But if I focus on being a Novel PERSON…  well that is what I will be and radiate to the world.

Here is an excerpt from the first draft of my novel:

The Alone Elevator Chapter 1 Excerpt

Recent Comments:

• amanda commented on Scrapbooking My Illness Journey great idea! see my blog for my take on scrapbooking your illness, too! {hugs}
• Laura H. commented on Definitions: More Than Just a Novel Patient I've been thinking about what you've written here for a few days now, but I'm still s
• Selena commented on Scrapbooking My Illness Journey The story about your sister really touched my heart. I also love your scrapbook pages! Thanks or sha
• Nikki commented on Complaining About Complaining Sometimes a friend of mine will start to tell me of his or her physical afflictions or how they are
• Nikki commented on Complaining About Complaining Thanks for writing and posting this. When we are in heaven, Lauren, you and I 'will run and not

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Being so open with my illness has certainly brought me many blessings.  I’ve had so much vital support especially during difficult times from the people that read this blog.  Sometimes just reading caring comments from people left here have made the world of difference in my ability to get through the day.  My friends and family also have been better able to know what’s going on with me and stay in the loop, so that they can better understand and support me.  I’ve been able to help others by sharing my story and helping people who are going through similar situations not feel so alone.  And I’ve had an outlet for catharsis for myself.

There have also been some downsides.  Sometimes I get unkind and unwelcome comments left here.  Being so open about my illness opens me up to everyone’s opinion on the matter.  I also sometimes have to be careful of what I say because I know that a person I care about in my life will read what I write and I don’t want to hurt them.

But lately I’ve been working really hard to get myself off disability by starting a career in Transmedia.  I went to ARGFest, a conference for Transmedia and Alternate Reality Games, a few weeks ago where I networked and learned a great deal from the panels and speakers.  I had a blast and came back energized to continue pursuing this as a career.  But while I was there I discovered that a lot of people follow my blog, and I started to wonder how that might negatively effect my chances of succeeding in that industry.  Would people not hire me because they had read my blog and knew I was ill?

So that leaves me in sort of a quandary.  This blog is a big part of my life, but I don’t want to give it up, but I also don’t want to sabotage my own career.  So what do you think?  How has being open with your illness been a positive or negative experience for you?  How has it affected your career?  Please leave me a note in the comments!

Here are some photos from my trip to Atlanta, Georgia for ARGFest!

Recent Comments:

• Dana Marton commented on Progress! Congratulations, you are one of my picks for the Versatile Blogger Award! Go to my blog post to see
• Diana Lee commented on Progress! I'm grateful to hear you're doing so well. You truly look wonderful.
• cattie commented on Progress! Aww, so happy for you, Lauren, and thanking God you're well. I hope you have tons of fun, an
• Ariana commented on Progress! Yay! So sad I won't be going to ARGfest I love the picture with you standing! Your skirt is
• David F. commented on Progress! Beautiful to see your amazing progress! Congratulations! Have fun a ARGFest… Wish I could be there

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Post tags: Alternate reality game, alternate reality games, ARGFest, Atlanta, Better, blessing, blog, catharsis, Chronic, Chronic (medicine), Chronic Illness, Conditions and Diseases, Conference, difficult times, Disability, experience, family, flickr, friends and family, game, health, help, illness, journey, life, many blessings, quandary, right decision, sharing, speakers, ssi, story, Support Groups, transmedia

Being so open with my illness has certainly brought me many blessings.  I’ve had so much vital support especially during difficult times from the people that read this blog.  Sometimes just reading caring comments from people left here have made the world of difference in my ability to get through the day.  My friends and family also have been better able to know what’s going on with me and stay in the loop, so that they can better understand and support me.  I’ve been able to help others by sharing my story and helping people who are going through similar situations not feel so alone.  And I’ve had an outlet for catharsis for myself.

There have also been some downsides.  Sometimes I get unkind and unwelcome comments left here.  Being so open about my illness opens me up to everyone’s opinion on the matter.  I also sometimes have to be careful of what I say because I know that a person I care about in my life will read what I write and I don’t want to hurt them.

But lately I’ve been working really hard to get myself off disability by starting a career in Transmedia.  I went to ARGFest, a conference for Transmedia and Alternate Reality Games, a few weeks ago where I networked and learned a great deal from the panels and speakers.  I had a blast and came back energized to continue pursuing this as a career.  But while I was there I discovered that a lot of people follow my blog, and I started to wonder how that might negatively effect my chances of succeeding in that industry.  Would people not hire me because they had read my blog and knew I was ill?

So that leaves me in sort of a quandary.  This blog is a big part of my life, but I don’t want to give it up, but I also don’t want to sabotage my own career.  So what do you think?  How has being open with your illness been a positive or negative experience for you?  How has it affected your career?  Please leave me a note in the comments!

Here are some photos from my trip to Atlanta, Georgia for ARGFest!

Recent Comments:

• amanda commented on Scrapbooking My Illness Journey great idea! see my blog for my take on scrapbooking your illness, too! {hugs}
• Laura H. commented on Definitions: More Than Just a Novel Patient I've been thinking about what you've written here for a few days now, but I'm still s
• Selena commented on Scrapbooking My Illness Journey The story about your sister really touched my heart. I also love your scrapbook pages! Thanks or sha
• Nikki commented on Complaining About Complaining Sometimes a friend of mine will start to tell me of his or her physical afflictions or how they are
• Nikki commented on Complaining About Complaining Thanks for writing and posting this. When we are in heaven, Lauren, you and I 'will run and not

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I’ve made tremendous progress the last 45 days!  I’ve gone from having a feeding tube to clear liquids to solids to totally normal food.  I started out practically confined to bed, but now I’ve been going out and walking around with my walker again.  I even got my PICC line out last week!  Things are looking up!

And since I’ve been feeling so much better, I’ve been able to enjoy a social life again for the first time in a long time.  It can be really hard to make friends when you debilitated with a chronic illness.  I’ve had very little to no social life for years.  Partly due to pain and lack of energy but also due to lack of friends.  But when I was Baptized back in March into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, little did I know that I would suddenly find myself with as much social life as I had the energy to keep up with.  It’s been a great blessing!

In fact, I’m feeling so much better that I’m actually leaving to go out of town on Wednesday to ARGFest – a conference for the kind of online games I develop and play.  I will be going for 5 days, and I will be taking my caregiver with me to help me out.  I am super excited and thankful that I am well enough to go!

Now that’s what I call progress!

Recent Comments:

• NovelPatient commented on The Unexpected I'll check it out thanks! Hope all is well with you!
• sandie commented on The Unexpected http://www.thecodeoflife.info/pages/The%20Code%20…. I don't know yet if this has any merit. I
• NovelPatient commented on A Place For Him Thanks!
• Alison commented on A Place For Him Not bad for ten minutes! The Dog looks so cute.
• Genko commented on Shattered Trust Hi Lauren: Sorry this has been an additional stress for you. I think it must be almost impossible fo

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Post tags: ARGFest, Baptized, blessing, blog, Busy, caregiver, Christianity, Chronic, Chronic Illness, Church, church of jesus christ, church of jesus christ of latter day saints, clear liquids, Conference, energy, feeding tube, games, hope, hospital, illness, jesus christ of latter day saints, Latter Day Saints, LDS, life, living my life, pain, patient, picc line, Religion and Spirituality, walk, walker, WALKING

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© Novel Patient for Novel Patient, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: ARGFest, Baptized, blessing, blog, Busy, caregiver, Christianity, Chronic, Chronic Illness, Church, church of jesus christ, church of jesus christ of latter day saints, clear liquids, Conference, energy, feeding tube, games, hope, hospital, illness, jesus christ of latter day saints, Latter Day Saints, LDS, life, living my life, pain, patient, picc line, Religion and Spirituality, walk, walker, WALKING

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