family

September 7, 2018September 5, 2018

My Greatest Fear Is that My Parents Will Have to Lay Me to Rest

Columns, The Girl Who Cried Wolf - A Column by Kristi Page

Death isn’t an abstract concept to me. I’m sick, and regardless of the fact that my sickness is outrageously unpredictable, my eventual descent toward passing will likely be pretty ... Read more

August 14, 2018August 14, 2018

Lupus, Grief, and Losing a Loved One

Columns, Diaries of a Lupus Chick - a column by Marisa Zeppieri

Dealing with a chronic illness each day can be frustrating and overwhelming, so how do we factor in grief and the grieving process when someone close to us passes ... Read more

April 6, 2018April 5, 2018

Not Scared to Die

Columns, The Girl Who Cried Wolf - A Column by Kristi Page

In my family, death is not a topic of taboo; we speak both incredibly openly and comfortably about the subject. By the time I was only 3 years old, ... Read more

December 19, 2017December 18, 2017

Saving Spoons During the Holidays: 3 Tips

Columns, Diaries of a Lupus Chick - a column by Marisa Zeppieri

Fa la la la la ―I can’t believe the holidays are here again and another year has come and gone. Fall and winter are my favorite seasons, not only because ... Read more

November 14, 2017November 16, 2017

How Support Influences Outcomes for Patients with Chronic Illness

Columns, Diaries of a Lupus Chick - a column by Marisa Zeppieri

Can substantial support, or lack of it, affect outcomes for a person living with chronic illness? Simply put, yes. Study after study is showing that support has a direct ... Read more

August 22, 2017August 22, 2017

3 Ways to Support a Friend with a Chronic Illness

Columns, Diaries of a Lupus Chick - a column by Marisa Zeppieri

A select number of family members and friends have been integral to my well-being and sanity since I was diagnosed with lupus in 2001. I’ve realized over the years ... Read more

July 27, 2017July 26, 2017

My Family and the Stages of Grief

Columns, Hurricane in Heels -- a Column by Kellie McRae

When you go through a major loss of someone close to you, well-documented stages of grief occur. These stages happen with death, divorce, and a major illness. I never ... Read more

May 17, 2017May 16, 2017

What a Photo Can’t Tell You

Columns, The Girl Who Cried Wolf - A Column by Kristi Page

If I were to show you this picture (on the left) and ask you to pick out which one of us is sick, which one of us would you ... Read more

May 8, 2017May 8, 2017

Blessed with Calls from Family and Friends, Even if I Don’t Like Phones

Columns, Hurricane in Heels -- a Column by Kellie McRae

I am always grateful for the encouragement and support I get from friends and family, but sometimes I just want some space. Then I remember that some people don’t ... Read more

April 17, 2017April 16, 2017

An Open Letter to My Mother

Columns, Hurricane in Heels -- a Column by Kellie McRae

I grew up in a pretty tough neighborhood and was reared by a single mom. She was tough, and she wasn’t overly affectionate. We never heard “I love you,” ... Read more