National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week

How to Be a ChronicBabe: 5 Steps to get you started

Jenni Prokopy
Founder, ChronicBabe.com

Jenni is founder and editrix of ChronicBabe.com, an online resource for young women with chronic illness. An award-winning writer, speaker, and expert on healthy living, she shares her personal experience with chronic illness - and rallies the expertise of hundreds of others - to help women live beyond their illness and be total Babes. Her writing has appeared in more than 100 publications, and she has worked with dozens of organizations large and small, local and multinational, to create compelling messages that empower people to work better, play harder… and be their best.

How to Be a ChronicBabe: 5 Steps to Get You Started will look at tools you can use to start living well in spite of chronic illness. With an irreverent attitude and a practical approach, Jenni Prokopy of ChronicBabe.com will walk you through her most important steps for living "babelicious" even if you're a sick chick, including building a support "team," organizing your medical paperwork, learning to ask for help (and getting it!) and more.

Visit her website

How to Be a ChronicBabe: 5 Steps to get you started

HOST_Donna: Welcome to the National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week seminar. My name is Donna, and I'll be your host for this hour. We will open in prayer; then our guest will present the topic, after which there will be a question and answer period, then I will close in prayer...

Let's pray...

Father, thank you for this week of special seminars. We ask you to bless our speaker tonight and each one who is here. We ask you to speak to us through her, and let all that we say and do be pleasing in your sight. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Now, I'd like to introduce you to our speaker...

Jenni Prokopy is the founder and editrix of ChronicBabe.com, an online resource for young women with chronic illness. An award-winning writer, speaker, and expert on healthy living, she shares her personal experience with chronic illness - and rallies the expertise of hundreds of others - to help women live beyond their illness and be total Babes.

Her writing has appeared in more than 100 publications, and she has worked with dozens of organizations large and small, local and multinational, to create compelling messages that empower people to work better, play harder… and be their best.
Her topic tonight is "How to Be a ChronicBabe: Five Steps to Get You Started." Jenni, we are so happy to have you with us tonight.

chronicbabe: Thanks Donna! Good evening, folks. I hope you're all AWAP (As Well As Possible). I thought I would start with a brief introduction about who I am, and how I came up with the idea of ChronicBabe.

But before we jump into that, I wanted to let you know about something my regular www.ChronicBabe.com readers are already aware of:

On August 23 I survived a disaster in which my home was flooded after a tornado (or microburst, we never got a final decision) ripped the roof off, and I'm currently living in temporary housing with limited office capabilities. So if my presentation isn't perfect, I hope you'll have patience. Today's my first day back at work in three weeks and I'm so excited to speak to you all! Thanks for being here.

So, down to business. Let's start with a little background, shall we? I was often sick as a kid-allergic to everything, always with an ear infection, suffering "growing pains" that would keep me up for nights on end-even experiencing frequent chest pains I thought were small heart attacks. (The doctors never found anything, and I learned as an adult that they likely were anxiety attacks.) I had spinal meningitis at 13 and mononucleosis at 18.

Despite all that, I was extremely athletic and active, and always took my physical fitness for granted-until I turned 25. That's when a bunch of things came at me from left field: fibromyalgia, asthma, anxiety and Raynaud's phenomenon. I had no idea how to handle myself! The fear, confusion and loneliness I felt were immense, and I started to experience depression.

My situation felt ridiculously unfair. I was young, and active, and "in the best shape of my life"-and yet I also felt awful. The stress caused me to lose almost 40 pounds in just a few weeks, and when acquaintances would say "you look amazing!" I would smile, and say "thank you," all the while thinking, "I am dying!"

Eventually, a doctor explained to me that with fibromyalgia, the symptoms are highly varied, somewhat unpredictable, and that conventional tests wouldn't show us anything of value. Wow, was I glad I had gone through the paces! Ugh. I know many of you can relate. One doctor even told me to "get ready to live a life of pain" and to "take some Advil." Of course, with compassionate treatment like that, it was no wonder I fell into a depression. I stopped working out, gained back all the weight I had lost, and began to feel helpless. It was a real low point.

Big bummer, right? Don't worry-I'm getting to the good part! Despite all the bad health stuff, other parts of my life were looking up: good job, cool boyfriend, a good group of pals. I had some real motivation to get better. I started hunting for new solutions. After working with a few different doctors, I finally found a rheumatologist and a team of pain management folks who understood my struggle, and would work together to help me become more active again-to help me re-shape a life that included all the things I loved.

Over the next couple years, I began to rebuild my self-image. The longer I worked at getting better, the easier it became. The result: today, I feel better than I have in many years. (OK, I wrote that last sentence before my home was destroyed, so today I DON'T really feel that AWESOME but I'm working with what I've got! ) Again, I know many of you can relate.

I'm telling you all this background so you know I'm not just a white coat spouting "do as I say, not as I do" advice. I'm a real person, who has experienced a decade of living with chronic illness. And I'm here to point you in a direction I think will help you live a better life.

Am I offering a cure? Nope. Am I offering a guarantee that I can "fix" you? No way. I'm offering a perspective that can give you hope, and pride in yourself and your accomplishments. I want to show you how to be what I've become: a ChronicBabe.

So, what's a ChronicBabe?

A ChronicBabe is a woman who, despite being a sick chick, still does everything she can to create balance in her life. (Of course, you can be a ChronicDude if you're a guy-the same techniques apply!) A ChronicBabe is a woman first, a patient second (or third, or fourth). Her approach is open-minded and creative, and she's not afraid to stand up for her needs and rights. She tries to have a sense of humor when she can, and she relies on her friends for support when she needs it. A ChronicBabe accepts that there are some things about her health she can't change, and musters up the courage to take charge of the things she CAN control. (In fact, I'm intimately familiar with the serenity prayer, as I know MANY of you must be, and it's a big help day to day.)

Being a ChronicBabe takes work and creativity, and a great support system, and planning, and… you get the picture. It requires a conscious effort-as opposed to the blind following of medical advice and just waiting around, wishing for that magic pill that transforms us back into the Babes we were before we got sick.

Maybe chronic illness is old hat to you, and you'll slip right into ChronicBabe-dom like it's your favorite pair of heels. Or maybe you're newly diagnosed, and this all sounds a little unrealistic. That's okay-the ideas and tools offered here can be used by anyone, and even those of us who've been ChronicBabes for a while can always use a reminder.

Now, I'm about to start on my 5 steps for you, but feel free to ask questions as we go and I'll try to answer them as much as I can.

So: On to my top 5 steps to get you feeling like a ChronicBabe…

Step 1: Learning to take good care of yourself

If you've been living with chronic illness for a while, you're probably very ready to start feeling better. There are lots of simple things you can start doing today. While some of these might seem obvious at first blush, they're worth taking a closer look.

Stating a good intention-and carrying it through-is a great way to feel like you've accomplished something, and will help you feel just a little bit more in control of your health. Here are some ideas to start with:

" Eat better
You may be thinking, "Eat better? Duh. It's not like I haven't read that on the cover of every magazine in the universe." But are you really doing it? There are some simple steps you can take today to start eating better:

Do some meal planning. Lots of sites offer easy meal planning tools, like www.weightwatchers.com (you don't have to be a member), Cooking Light (www.cookinglight.com), and Every Day with Rachael Ray (www.rachaelraymag.com). For folks with celiac disease and food allergies, Living Without (www.livingwithout.com) offers great meal planning tips, and diabetics can get menu ideas and recipes from the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org).

Try some advance food "prep." My biggest obstacle to healthy eating is the weekday rush. So instead of trying to cook meals from scratch each day, I sometimes take a couple weekend hours to do a bunch of "prep."

Not only does this make meals easier to prepare throughout the
week, but it also keeps healthy snacks in front of me, reducing the chance
that in an overworked, overtired, deadline-driven fog I stumble into the
kitchen and eat a whole bag of Fritos. You know how that goes.

" Practice good "sleep hygiene"

Good sleep habits help everyone, not just ChronicBabes. The National Sleep Foundation (www.sleepfoundation.org) offers some great tips on getting good sleep, and the National Fibromyalgia Association's Sweet Dreams Campaign (www.fmaware.org) offers more tips and some cool tools to check out.

For a quick start, here are four things you can do today to get on a good path to sleepytime:
1. Establish a routine. Pick a time when you plan to go to bed every night, and a time to wake up every morning. Start tonight and stick with it! It won't be perfect at first, but eventually your body will find a rhythm, it will become easier to fall asleep, and you'll wake up more refreshed. Invent your own rituals. Do you remember being a small child and having a bedtime ritual? It was probably very comforting to follow a predictable routine each evening. Well, it's time to build a few of those little rituals into your day once again. (I'm starting to put them back into place at our temporary housing and it REALLY helps me feel better.) The familiarity of a routine will bring you comfort and a feeling of control-something that's often lost when we live with unpredictable illness. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
" Morning: I used to get up and immediately sit at the computer, catching up on email until I was done. Some mornings that could take a couple hours! No more-now, when I wake up I start with a shower, meds, a healthy breakfast, and 15-20 minutes of stretching and yoga. It's a nice way to ease into the day and when I do get to work, I feel relaxed and ready, not frantic.
" Pampering: Pick an evening to designate as your personal pampering time. Grab your favorite polish color and do your nails, or put on a soothing facial mask. Take a bubble bath and settle in with a good book. Throw a chick flick in the DVD player. Whatever you need to feel pampered and relaxed-make this a weekly habit and don't allow yourself to be disturbed. You deserve it!
" Evening: Just like my morning ritual, my evening ritual involves some self care and relaxation: I moisturize, take my nighttime meds, stretch, and spend some quiet time winding down with a good book. I do this around the same time each night, and I appreciate the predictability of my routine.
2. Skip the caffeine. Not everyone can go cold turkey like I did a couple years ago (it really helped!) but try to exercise some restraint and don't drink any caffeine after lunchtime. If you're a coffee junkie, start by cutting back a little earlier each day to avoid a major caffeine-withdrawal headache. BTW, the way I quit was I took a measuring cup, and each day I would pour out one more ounce of my daily diet coke...until I was down to one ounce to drink on the last day. I looked really silly drinking one ounce of diet coke out of a measuring cup, but I work at home, so who cares? It kept me from getting the withdrawal issues. You've got to think creatively!
3. Exercise early. Evening exercise can get you all pumped up before bedtime. To avoid that adrenaline buzz late in the day, exercise as early as possible.
4. And for the last sleepytime tip: Change your surroundings. Does it get too hot in your bedroom at night? Lower your thermostat before bed, open a window, turn on a fan-whatever it takes. Too cold? Invest in some cute PJs and wool socks. Live on a noisy street? Get a white noise machine, or an air filter that creates a low hum. And buy ear plugs.

I do ALL of these things. I'm a complicated woman. ;

disabledanddone: what is a white noise machine?

chronicbabe: A white noise machine can be bought through Amazon.com or any beauty/bath/household goods store. They can make just a fuzzy plain noise, or you can get fancy and get ones that make wave noises, waterfall noises, beach sounds...etc. I use
an air filter that has a low humming that I'm used to. It drowns out background noise (like streets or neighbors.)

OK, on to the next helpful tip for taking care of yourself:

" Craft beautiful reminders
When I'm feeling my worst, it's hard to remember the good things I can do to feel better-I'm focused on my pain and exhaustion, and it's hard to get out of my own head. To help, I created some reminders that symbolize positive influences. A few examples:
- I wear a locket almost every day that contains a tiny message of affirmation. I know, it sounds cheesy-but who cares? It helps me feel better, and it's portable.
- In my office, I framed a quote from a letter written by artist Sol LeWitt to fellow creator Eva Hesse, something funny and comforting that always makes me laugh and feel less stressed about doing "perfect" work. It says, in part: "Stop it and just DO…Try and tickle something inside you, your 'weird humor.' You belong in the most secret part of you. Don't worry about cool, make your own uncool..." I love this advice!
- On my nightstand, I have a tiny phrase encased in a beautiful handmade beaded frame, that says simply: "each moment counts." Seeing that every day reminds me to be present, to practice mindfulness and enjoy each positive moment, even when it's surrounded by bad stuff. It helps me remember that things aren't always bad.
- You can take any object and turn it into a positive reminder. Pick a favorite ring and wear it on tough days to remind yourself to call a friend for support. Buy a beautiful pillowcase for your bed and use it as a reminder to follow your bedtime ritual. Use anything!

OK…we've covered Step 1: Learning to Take Good Care of Yourself.

Joanna: I've been a ChronicBabe for a few months now, and your site has been so helpful, thank you. I suffer from chronic daily headaches, and have gone to so many doctors, tried so many meds/treatments... anything you can suggest to help keep up hope for feeling better? Depression tends to come and go because of this...

chronicbabe: This is a tough question. I'm not a doctor, and I can't give medical advice. But in general, all the tips I'm listing here help me deal with depression. There's not one single thing alone that can do it, in my un-schooled opinion. You need to try multiple approaches for a blended solution. That's my experience, anyway.

Now, let's talk about Steps 2 and 3: Building Your Support Team and Learning to Ask for Help. Go team! Your team, that is. Team (insert your name here). Many chronic illnesses can be isolating, especially when they take a person who is highly active and limit their choices to a large degree.

When you feel extremely limited, it's hard to find the motivation to get out there and connect with other people, knowing you can conserve precious energy staying home and watching re-runs of The Gilmore Girls. I know-I've been there.

But there is a whole team of people surrounding you, full of individuals who can help you in ways you never imagined before-if you're open to it.

A few examples of my Team: My husband, friends, family, manicurist, guys at the UPS Store who carry packages to my car when they know I'm too tired to do so, bus drivers who stop right at my corner instead of two blocks away at the "real" stop...etc.

When building your team, think outside the normal conventions of people - beyond just friends and family. Anyone who helps you be your best can be part of your team! Learn how to tell people what's going on, and ask for what you need. For us independent Babes, the concept of asking for what we need seems icky. Many of us belong to a generation of absolute go-getters and it's hard to accept that we need help. But you're gonna have to get over that, chicks. It's time to express yourself!

Start with one person, someone close to you. Find a close friend, someone you know from church, your spouse or partner, your sister or brother, your mom. Make a date to talk, and explain what's going on with you. Don't drown your pal in specifics and gory details-offer an overall picture of your health condition, and how you're feeling about it. Just the simple act of telling another person can offer big relief. And the comfort they can provide, even if it's just a gentle hug, or an "I hear you and I'm here for you," can feel wonderful. That person is now on your "team." You don't have to tell her that (although she might like to know!), but remember it for yourself. You may even want to start a written list (keep it handy).

Being part of a team isn't a one-sided deal-you need to be ready to reciprocate.
If you call a team member for support, think about what you can do in return. Baby-sit? Bake them a cake? Proofread their resume? Walk their dog? Or maybe just listen to their woes one afternoon over coffee? These are bonds you're building, and they'll be strong if your relationship goes both ways.

Practice asking for what you need. This might be the most challenging part of the "team" building process. If you find it tough, start with something small. Ask your girlfriend for a ride to the airport so you don't have to take public transit. Ask your husband to take a turn with the laundry or other chores if you're having a bad day. Start small and practice, and soon enough it won't feel as awkward.

It took me a couple years to gather my team (Go, Team Jenni!), but it was worth it. They rock! A couple days after our condo was flooded, 17 (yes, 17!!) people came over for a pack-a-thon and helped me and my husband pack the undamaged contents of our apartment in one day. (As a thank-you to those folks, I will share all our saved packing boxes, bubble wrap, thick markers and tape guns, for starters.) Now that's some incredible help!

Building a good team also means benching the bad players

There are bound to be people in your life who just exude negativity, and part of crafting "Team You" is minimizing-or eliminating-their influence. This is not the easiest thing, especially for women, who are taught almost from birth to "play nice." But the skill of creating boundaries with people, and weeding out negative forces, is one that will serve you well in all areas of your life.

Take some time to think about the people you know. Are there folks whose phone calls you always dread? People you avoid at social functions? Even worse: people who blatantly disregard your needs or limitations, or have no empathy for your situation? People who tell you to "get over" your illness or "suck it up?"

Those people need to get bounced, big time. They are no good for you, and the sooner you minimize or eliminate their presence the better you'll feel. I'm not telling you to run out today and announce to someone that your relationship is over, but you should start thinking about reprioritizing your time and weeding out negative people. I know this is hard-I've had to do it myself-but in the long run, you'll be better off.

* This kind of work is all about forming good boundaries, and I recommend a couple of excellent books on the subject, both by Anne Katherine. Boundaries: Where You End and I Begin is a great introduction to the concept of setting boundaries, and Where to Draw the Line: How to Set Healthy Boundaries Every Day is a great follow-up with lots of practical advice and strategies.

OK, we've covered team-building and learning to ask for help, Steps 2 & 3.

Let's hit Step 4 now: Medical Record-Keeping 101: An Easy Stress-Buster

There's nothing like a big stack of medical bills-or worse yet, a call from a collections agency-to destroy your peace of mind. But when you're sick often and struggling to accomplish the most basic daily tasks, the extra work of staying organized can feel like a chore. The trouble is, neglecting personal organization can cause increased stress, aggravating your chronic condition and making you feel even worse.

Here are some tips to help you get organized. Yes, it will take a little time and work up front to get this system started. But in the long run, it will simplify your daily life and reduce stress, which is good for your physical and emotional health. Getting more organized will also make it easier for other people to help you in times of need.

Your first step is to commit to being organized. Sound simple? For a lot of people, this is a real hurdle. Are you the Babe who keeps all her receipts in a shoebox under the bed and then freaks out at tax time? I'm talking to you, girl!

" Create a filing system for your health-related paperwork.
If you already have a filing cabinet, this might be as simple as designating a few file folders that hold your bills, medication inserts, test results, fitness guides, etc.

You may want to buy a binder, some tabbed dividers and a three-hole punch, and keep everything filed in one binder. (Or keep one binder with bills and related paperwork, and another as a fact file with magazine clippings and other research.)

Some people find it easiest to have one folder that holds all their medical information chronologically. (An alternative is to designate a folder for each month in the year.)

If you see lots of providers, you may want a different folder for each doctor. If you're a real frequent flyer at the hospital, you may want to create a folder for each hospital stay.

If you're feeling creative, go for color-coding! Use this as an excuse to go wild at your office supply or craft store and make your system something fun to use and look at. Why not inject some positive energy into an otherwise yucky task?

" Designate a place to put that paperwork.

This place is not on or in your nightstand. In fact, it should NOT be in your bedroom at all if you can help it. This is stressful stuff, so keep it away from any place you consider a restful sanctuary!

If you already have a place for your household filing, plug your health files in there. (If you don't, maybe it's time to get that other stuff organized, too.)

If you must hide your paperwork under your bed, consider using a handle-top plastic box so it's easy to slide in and out. The last thing you want is to pull a muscle lugging around a bunch of paperwork.

Pick a spot to archive older paperwork (like a basement or storage space), and plan to clean out your files every January.

" Enlist the help of others.

If you share a household (and record-keeping) with a spouse, kids or others, make sure they're clear on your new system. Don't let them put your newly awesome organizational system into disarray!

If you're feeling uncreative, grab a girlfriend and brainstorm ideas for getting organized. (Chocolate will probably help get the creative juices flowing. Uh-huh.)

That same girlfriend (and maybe a few more) would probably be happy to come over for an hour and help sort through all your past paperwork and get you organized. Mix a batch of margaritas and make it a mini party. Filing Fiesta!

If all else fails, check out my favorite book on personal organization: Organizing From The Inside Out, by Julie Morgenstern.

I've created some handy templates you can use to organize four other key documents every ChronicBabe must have: Your daily health journal, a health care providers list, a current medications list, and an emergency contacts list. If you visit www.chronicbabe.com/media/newsletters/ and sign up for ChronicBabe's free eNewsletter, Goodie Bag, you'll get a much more detailed version of this presentation including those free templates, in the form of an eBook that's emailed right to you. My treat!

Last, but definitely not least: Step 5: Fun: You remember what that is, right?

Being sick is a drag. It can drain all your enthusiasm, and suck out energy you would put toward doing fun stuff. If you're going to be a ChronicBabe, you've got to start learning how to make room for fun again. Maybe you can't do everything you used to do, but that doesn't mean there aren't ways to have fun, even when you feel cruddy. Some ideas:

" Call a funny friend. This is easy, and takes almost no energy. Call a funny friend (I hope she's a member of your Team!) and tell her you need a laugh. She can tell you a joke, read to you from the personal ads-I don't care, as long as she makes you giggle.

" Plan a pedicure party. Some nail salons will do in-house parties, where they bring their tools and come to you. Grab a couple girlfriends and chip in. One Babe can bring beverages, another can bring snacks, and you provide your living room and some cool tunes. It's a low energy way to spend an afternoon or evening with people you love, while pampering yourself.

" Rent a chick flick. I've already picked out a ton of recommendations and listed them in our Amazon aStore (www.chronicbabe.com/amazon). Watch it on your own, or invite a friend over. Nothing perks me up like watching a goofy movie!

" Dive into a stack of books. In my house, there's always a stack of unread books just begging for attention. If you're the same, grab one and settle in. It won't be the wildest night of your life, but reading can be a great distraction from your troubles. Same goes for that stack of magazines that's growing on the coffee table.

" Cook a meal with a pal. It's fun to experiment, and even more fun when you do it with a friend or two. Grab a recipe you're dying to try and give it a whirl. If it sucks, you can always order take-out.

" Get creative and make something. I like to make beaded jewelry; my pal Natalie likes to knit; another pal, Cinnamon, likes to sew…these are all great ways to distract yourself from negative circumstances. Bonus: you get a tangible result, something you can use or give as a gift.

" Show off your sense of humor. Sometimes you just need to blow off some steam and laugh about it all. I like to wear funny t-shirts to the gym, especially ones that poke fun at my illnesses. Great examples are at MedTees (www.cafepress.com/medtees), No Pity Shirts
" (www.nopityshirts.com) and The Nth Degree (www.thenthdegree.com).

So that's it: My top 5 steps to start feeling like a ChronicBabe. I hope if you like what you've read here, you'll head over to www.ChronicBabe.com and sign up for our free eNewsletter, and by doing so you'll also get a free eBook that contains this presentation and much more. There are also hundreds of resources at the site with many, many more tips just like this, by me and dozens of others, addressing a wide variety of concerns and questions. Those resources are free for you and anyone who wants to come on over.

I've left a little time at the end here to answer a couple questions… anyone want to ask a specific question about anything I've addressed tonight? I know it's a lot of ground to cover in an hour...

Debbie: Is all of this on your website?

chronicbabe: Hi, Debbie, yes - if you sign up for the goodie bag neewsletter, you get a free ebook emailed immediately that includes a larger version of this presentation and a ton more free information. and there are hundreds of articles at the site

bluebeauty875: I love your site and it's really helped me out. I was just wondering how you deal with the people that do tell you that you look really good or that you don't look sick?

chronicbabe: Oh, those people make me crazy. I don't have an easy answer; I recommend you go to www.chronicbabe.com and search for the word "naysayer" and you'll see a couple articles on this topic.

HOST_Donna: How do you deal with negative people when they are family members?

chronicbabe: Another toughie! I've had my ins and outs. Sometimes a little patience helps; acceptance that they won't always understand you; and sometimes you have to cut them out of your life, at least partially. it stinks, but sometimes the best thing you can do is insulate yourself from negative forces, even family, if they refuse to honor your needs.

Schatze: Thank you so much, your presentation has been terrific. I feel better already!

chronicbabe: Hey, you're welcome! For me, it's a great way to start back at work after a really awful three weeks.

disabledanddone: Thank you chronicbabe, you have given me some good ideas and boosted me up!!!

chronicbabe: Thanks! my pleasure.

T: How do you make new friends or meet people when you haven't worked in 10 yrs and you are very isolated?

chronicbabe: I'd start with online forums. If you work out at a gym, maybe strike up a conversation with someone there. Join a book club, church group. etc. It's not the easiest thing, but take baby steps and don't get discouraged if your first encounter isn't awesome - it takes practice!

bc: Lots to think about! Thanks for your time and thoughts-- and hope you're back in your home soon!!

chronicbabe: Thanks! Me too. Could be 6 months or more until we're home again, but with the internet and a laptop, I can still work and feel productive. And the temporary housing has a lap pool so I'm trying to see the silver lining in this cloud!

disabledanddone: I am new on this site, as of today, and I have more energy today then I have had in over a year.....thank you to everyone

Joanna: Thank you so much, I really appreciate all that you do for all of us ChronicBabes :-)

chronicbabe: Thanks for saying so! it's my pleasure.

HOST_Donna: Thank you, Jenni -- FANTASTIC presentation!! You've really given us some great tips. I also want to thank all of you who participated in tonight's chat. Now, let's close in prayer...

Father, thank you for allowing Jenni to share with us tonight, for the insights and encouragement she gave. We ask you to bless her in her ministry to others, and bless each one who participated in this seminar tonight. As we leave, go with us throughout the week, and help us to remember that you are in control, no matter what our situation may be. We thank you for your presence tonight. In Jesus' name, Amen...

chronicbabe: Thanks Donna. Thanks everyone for taking the time to listen (read?!) what I have to say about living well in spite of chronic illness. Now get out there and be ChronicBabes! Much love, Jenni Prokopy, the Editrix

HOST_Donna: Thank you all for coming. For those who wish to continue chatting with each other, the Lobby is open for general chat.

chronicbabe: thanks everyone!

Debbie: thank you Jenni! I have so enjoyed your presentation and sense of humor and will definitely be visiting your website

pakrat: Do you attribute your approach to illness from already being a positive person?

chronicbabe: Not really - I attribute it to many years of hard work, counseling, meditation, self-study and support. If I can do it, you can!

Angie: Jenni, I had read about your home, and I'm so glad you made the effort to be here today. Your seminar was worth the wait!

cakrejci: You have given us a wealth of information and we are the richer for it. Thank you.

tywish: standing (well, sitting) ovation for Jenni!

Angie: That was a much needed breath of fresh air

HOST_Donna: I encourage all of you to go to Jenni's website if you haven't already done so. Lots of free info and encouragement! *S*

Angie: Good affirmation to stick with some things I have started.