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==================================== DID YOU KNOW… ==================================== |
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Some of you know me well. For some of you this is the first time you've heard from me. Either way, you are appreciated and I feel like I can share a part of your experiences because I too live with invisible chronic illnesses. In fact, they seem to be multiplying within my family circle. So thank you for being a part of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week (NICIAW) and supporting my efforts to increase awareness. I couldn't do this without you--your help, enthusiasm, and willingness to not just attend workshops during NICIAW week but help me let others know too! To say I'm exhausted is an understatement, but there is something to be said about pain... it keeps you awake! So I have to admit I've gotten a lot done duriing midnight hours (it's 3:39 a.m. as I write this... I've got to get to bed before those birds start chirping!) I hope you enjoy what I and our volnteers have put together for you. And know that it was all done out of caring and understanding. The week brings a fresh awareness to invisible illness. Some of it is very positive. I did a national radio program this morning and the host was extremly eager to help me spread the message. Three hour laters I did another interview on the radio and the two hosts were just as thrilled.
By 4 p.m. I was at the doctor with my son and I mentioned something about invisible illness week and the nurse snickered and said, "what's that?" I said "A time to bring more awareness that about 1 in 2 people live with a chronic illness and 96% of it invisible" and smiled. And she just had this look on her face like "whatever." But your joy for the cause and your pain (emotional and physical) gives me thick skin and tomorrow when I return I think I'll bring her a bracelet and a brochure and just smile again. Living with invisible illness is hard. I recently wrote and OpEd piece called "Can Those with an Invisible Illness Park in the Blue Spots without Others Seeing Red?" and one web site has over 300 comments--some that made me, well, irritated (to put it nicely)... I had to click away before I started getting into an email argument with people. But the good news is that anything that causes people to complain or comment means we've hit a nerve. And people are at least talking about the idea of invisible illness. If the statistic 1 in 2 has a chronic illness holds true, it's just a matter of time before at least 50 percent of our population has a more personal understanding they didn't expect! And it just might change their attitude about a lot of things. None of us wish pain on another. But it's nice to know that we are among those who understand. I hope this UPDATE gives you a look at behind-the-scenes and how you can continue to be involved and get to know others too. Thank you for your support!
Lisa Copen |
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You will log on to www.invisibleillness.com to join the chat room where the presenter will teach for about 40 minutes and then answer questions about 20 minutes. At our web site you'll find the complete schedule, bios of the guests, free gifts they are doanting and a time converter. Look at a sampling of the cool and helpful workshop topics!
DON'T
MISS THEM! |
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We can still get them to you before II Week, but the good news is that they DON'T have the date so they are timeless! Plus, the sales of these items help us cover the costs of Invisible Illness week, so we appreciate any help you can offer! Silicone bracelets, sterling silver bracelets, T-shirts, caps, silver awareness pins, stickers, magnets, car static clings and more. |
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* Invisible Illness week is being promoted by a lot of bloggers and MySpace owners, but unfortunately we aren't able to thank them all - some because of our space limits, some because the sites have some 'rough' languate... but please know how much we appreciate your support for our cause! |
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If you're
thinking we've got it all together, think again! Most our our Wondering
what you could do to help? Here are some ways to help us
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RESOURCES TO HELP |
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Our press releases for 2007 so far:
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Lisa has been blessed to have some interviews on the radio. We'll keep you posted if you want to hear them online.
... and
more are in the works. Lisa typically does Christian radio programs.
If you know someone who has a great show Lisa could contact
please
let her know!
This Opinion Editorial caused quite a stir of nearly 300 comments (some nice, some not so nice) over at Free Republic's web site. Interesting comments, but be careful. You may have to click away like we did before some people's comments get under your skin. But... at least people are talking! >>>Read it! |
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You are being sent this because you have subscribed to mailings from National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week or its sponsor, Rest Ministries. To unsubscribe from all future Invisible Illness Week mailings send a blank email to lisa@invisibleillness.com with the subject line "unsubscribe-iiweek"
NICIAW, PO Box 502928, San Diego, CA 92150, 858-486-4685, www.invisibleillness.com