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Survival Skills: Grace in the Flames

12/06/202512/06/2025 Steph Penny Leave a comment Surviving Chronic Illness

Three years ago I became disabled by illness. I don’t know whether it was lupus or not; the illness was never diagnosed. But it was a doozy of a flare-up and I was off work for about six months. During that time, I was virtually house-bound, going out only for medical appointments. I had to […]

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Survival Skills: Get. A. Second. Opinion.

28/02/202528/02/2025 Steph Penny Leave a comment Surviving Chronic Illness

‘You have some blood markers for lupus,’ the professor said, ‘and you have some symptoms for lupus, but I don’t feel comfortable diagnosing you with lupus.’ I groaned internally. I was sitting in the specialist’s office, hoping to finally have some answers for the medical circus that lived in my body. I had been living […]

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Random Acts of Kindness 

01/03/202401/03/2024 Steph Penny Leave a comment Surviving Chronic Illness

Sickness can be lonelifying. Not to mention depressing. So it goes without saying that simple acts of kindness in the midst of sickness can go a long way.  I’ve been sick for the past few weeks. This week, while resigning myself to another lonely week of persistent nausea (I’ve got enough nausea to light Sydney […]

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Flares, Flowers and a Big Pile of Manure

24/11/202324/11/2023 Steph Penny Leave a comment Surviving Chronic Illness

I had a flare-up this week. Before you ask, everything is OK, but at one point it was so bad it landed me in hospital.  Flares can be scary. Chronic illness is painful enough, but when your symptoms flare from smouldering into flame, or when terrifying symptoms strike out of nowhere, it can bring your […]

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Coping or Numbing?

09/06/202309/06/2023 Steph Penny 2 Comments Surviving Chronic Illness

‘You are coping so well,’ remarked my doctor. ‘Every time I see you, you’re always so positive and upbeat.’  ‘Maybe I should come in on a bad day!’ I shot back, laughing.  But his words made me think. What does ‘coping’ mean? How do people interpret my happy front or humour as coping—or do they […]

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When Surgery is a Blessing

19/05/202319/05/2023 Steph Penny 2 Comments Surviving Chronic Illness

My arm is in a sling. I can’t use it. I can’t drive anywhere. I can’t wash the dishes. Cutting up food is out. I can only eat things that can be prepared and consumed single-handedly. I can’t even shave properly. And don’t ask me about showering and toileting. I’ve been typing all week with […]

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    Recent Blogs

    • Myths of Singledom 19/06/2025
    • Survival Skills: Grace in the Flames 12/06/2025
    • Survival Skills: It’s Not Fair! 05/06/2025
    • Survival Skills: Scriptures for Illness 29/05/2025
    • Prayer of a Disfigured Christian 18/04/2025
    • Survival Skills: The God Who Allows Pain 11/04/2025
    • Survival Skills: Beauty and Breath 28/03/2025
    • Survival Skills: Find Your Illness Tribe 21/03/2025
    • Survival Skills: Upending Ableism 14/03/2025
    • Survival Skills: Grieving Spaces 07/03/2025
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