I want to send out a warm-hearted “Thank You! “ to all of the wonderful people who contributed to our first annual “Our Voices for Lupus Awareness” guest blogging event this May. We heard from several readers who found something they could relate to in living with illness themselves through blog comments, sites like Facebook and Twitter, emails and direct calls.
They stated that they feel inspired to take on new personal goals or aspirations including entrepreneurship, travel, creative endeavors, gratitude and service work, or to simply to take another look at lupus as less of a barrier and more as only part of their entire picture.
We anticipate adding to these themes by continuing our ‘open’ invitation to contribute here for bloggers, writers, patients, service workers, family and friends, medical providers and so on from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. We also hope to expand to other themes that weren’t covered in May and look forward to reading and learning from all of you.
Although we had a few people from Oregon and Washington contribute to the dialogue, we are definitely aiming for more. It is important for MLWT to hear what those of you locally are seeking and interested in regarding building your health support resources network. From these communications, research, social and educational opportunities can form ~ some are already set for this Fall, based on discussions from our first year of operation.
If you missed any of the guests during last month’s lupus awareness event, here is a listing of these great friends below and we really encourage you to take the time to get to know them. Some are artists and craftspeople. Some are creative career people managing their health as they pursue their passion. A few are professionals who either work within businesses or service programs aimed to support individuals with health challenges within employment, policy or independent living. There are a few authors who have books to offer encouragement, guidance or introduction into a life with a chronic illness. Most importantly, every writer from the event last month offers practical tips, insights and personal experience in adjusting to health challenges.
We had a wonderful variety touching on so many aspects in living well~ and we’re honored to have hosted these writers:
MLWT 2009 Lupus Awareness Month Guest Bloggers in order of appearance:
Christine Eco-fashion artist , authors Lupus Girl (blog), owns Windy Hill Fibers (business blog), Windy Hill Fibers (etsy.com), @windyhill (Twitter)
Kim Nault Patient advocate thru Lupus MCTD Foundation , Poet/Essayist, radio blog host , @LupusMCTD (Twitter)
Tonita Webb LFA- Pacific NW Chapter Board President , @LFAPNW (Twitter)
Carolyn and Jerry Glein Directors of My Lupus/Fibro Support Group , editors of their international newsletter and MLWT Advisory Team Members, @MYlupus (Twitter)
Kathy Tech grad, ME/CFS Advocate, offers vintage items on Tangelobaby, @tangelobaby (Twitter)
Doug Franklin Artist, MLWT Advisory Team Member and Vocational Rehab/Disability Specialist
Denice Beal Author, Artist and on-going MLWT Guest blogger
Leslie Rott PH.D Student, Univ. of Michigan , chronic illness advocate and speaker, authors blog Getting Closer to Myself
Jennie 30-something career girl extraordinaire, authors her blog Taming The Wolf , @TamingtheWolf (Twitter)
Maureen entrepreneur Birdsall Interactive , @birdsall (Twitter)
Marilyn Morris Editor, Author One of her books Diagnosis Lupus: The Intimate Journal of a Lupus Patient and blog The Lady with Lupus
Rosalind Joffe Chronic Illness Career Coach (cicoach.com), Author of her book Women, Work and Autoimmune Illness: Keep Working Girlfriend! and her blog Working with Chronic Illness , @WorkWithIllness (Twitter)
Kathryn Heatherly Ph.D candidate, Vocational and Rehabilitation Specialist serving Oregon and SW Washington, on-going MLWT Guest Blogger, Contact her at 1 (888) 355-5539 or by email at kheatherly@1hcc.net
Jessica world-traveller , authors her blog Notes from the Garden Spot of the World (link), @gardenJess (Twitter)
Sara Gorman New Mom, author of new book Despite Lupus: How To Live Well With a Chronic Illness , her website/blog Despite Lupus @despitelupus
We are so inspired for 2009 here at MLWT – are you? Carpe Diem!
