Medgine

Last November, I shot my shot. I pushed past imposter syndrome and I applied to be a patient advisor, with the Patient and Family Advisory Committee. This committee is part of the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA). I recently found out I got it. I was competing with people from all over the province . This means that I get to share my patient experience on a provincial-level and a systems-level. Still working on my same 9-5, this is... extra-curricular . But it makes... me excited that sharing my story and possibly make a difference. Somewhere in between I'm working on a poetry collection . I'm doing the most. This body reminds me that I need to calm down sometimes, but it also reminds me daily of the brevity of life. By divine grace, these lungs are still working so I'm striving to live fully and die empty all the while remaining present and not miss what's now. There was a time when this couldn't have been a possibility. So I'm grateful for this present moment. Here's to new possibilities. #writingcommunity #poetry #words #longsuffering #patience #patientengagement #spilledthoughts #prayer #poem #lamentation #faith #yegarts #yeg #time #chronicillness #healing #givethanks #lupusle #chronicwarrior #chronicdreamers #reflections #autoimmunedisease ##cidp #smallmercies #prayers #gratitude #raynauds #polymyositiswarrior

Taking a brief poetry interlude from my Raynaud’s advocacy campaign to talk about something I wish more people talked about without fearing mockery or shame: Loneliness. With the compounding loss of 2020 and the physical isolation. I've experienced my fair share of this. So I wrote a love poem around this. Here it is .... HAPPY LOVE AWARENESS DAY . #writingcommunity #poetry #words #devotional #longsuffering #patience #spilledthoughts #prayer #poem #lamentation #faith #yegarts #yeg #time #chronicillness #healing #givethanks #lupusle #chronicwarrior #chronicdreamers #reflections #autoimmunedisease ##cidp #smallmercies #prayers #gratitude #raynauds #polymyositiswarrior

Early last week, I took a moment to reflect on the load that I'm currently juggling in this season of life. From a very demanding full-time job to managing 4 chronic health conditions, while spending about 8hrs/week on #SCIG infusions. While Trying to make space for God and all things creative. I'm proud of who I'm becoming. I'm proud of my progress even if it feels too slow. I'm trusting that my pace is ordained. Even if the load can be exhausting, I don...'t carry it alone. I have a Helper. Shoutout to this version of me who is less likely to retrieve back to self-pity, I like her better than her previous counterparts.32. : Old self-portrait from summer circa 2020. #writingcommunity #poetry #words #devotional #longsuffering #patience #blessings #spilledthoughts #prayer #poem #lamentation #faith #yegarts #yeg #time #chronicillness #healing #givethanks #lupusle #chronicwarrior #chronicdreamers #reflections #autoimmunedisease ##cidp #smallmercies #prayers #gratitude See more

I found this quote in an old journal this past weekend. Turns out I needed the reminder just as much then as I do now. Join me tomorrow with @hope.farms as I candidly share my experience with imposter syndrome, faith, courage and stewardship. It’s gonna be great!!... Register to reserve your spot!! (Hopefarms.ca/events) TUES JAN 26 at 7pm . Tickets $10 #reflection #chronicillness #healing #givethanks #lupusle #chronicwarrior #chronicdreamers #reflections #autoimmunedisease #cidp #smallmercies #prayers #gratitude #raynauds #hopefarms #creativetable See more

I didn’t want to be long-winded to describe journey of a year. ... #anchor #life #socality #writing #thoughts #writersofinstagram #poetry #reflection #blessings #courage #life #sorrow #pain #hope #cidpwarrior #chronicillnesswarrior #lupuswarrior #thistooshallpass

Despite every hardship, I AM HERE and ALIVEI’m an entire miracle A tragedy turned triumph An ongoing testimony: God doesn’t get tired of turning dust into glory. ... Even if Joy feels fickle this season, I hope you don’t shrug it off when it lands on you.Even if it’s brief, you’re worthy of every single landing. PS - I’m working on these devotional videos, It’s coming soon. Stay tuned #reflection #chronicillness #healing #givethanks #lupusle #chronicwarrior #chronicdreamers #reflections #autoimmunedisease ##cidp #smallmercies #prayers #gratitude #raynauds See more

DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE SEEN TRYING. ( shoutout to @evelynfromtheinternet for sharing this) It's a vulnerable thing to explore ideas in their infancy. Social Media loves a ’finished product’. But more often than not, we are still figuring things out. The ’gram makes us think that everyone else is on the other side. (issa lie). Everyone is still just figuring it out. ... I thought I'd be a published author by now, but it hasn't happened yet. And every once in a while I grieve the timeline I had to get this done. I get frustrated by my pace. But I'm going to try...again. I hope you do too...whatever that thing is that you got too discouraged to keep pursuing. Don't be afraid to be seen trying. #writingcommunity #poetry #words #devotional #longsuffering #patience #blessings #spilledthoughts #prayer #poem #lamentation #faith #yegarts #yeg #time #chronicillness #healing #givethanks #lupusle #chronicwarrior #chronicdreamers #reflections #autoimmunedisease ##cidp #smallmercies #prayers #gratitude See more

I wrote this piece 3 years ago, when I was dismissing and belittling good brief moments in my life as I was dealing with a new diagnosis. Feeling torn that I was experiencing both lament with occasional good times. I felt like a contradiction that I couldn’t reconcile. It wasn’t until I allowed myself to sit in the lament and when it chose to visit, that I felt a level of progress in moving forward.... These same words revisited my mind this season and it needed sharing again. It’s an excerpt of my lupus poem (see my IGTV for full version) #writingcommunity #poetry #words #longsuffering #patience #spilledthoughts #prayer #poem #lamentation #faith #yegarts #yeg #time #chronicillness #healing #givethanks #lupusle #chronicwarrior See more

I got supersized dreams...stitched with a timeline for their achievement dates. Anyone who’s ever dealt with long-term health challenges probably experienced that kind of frustration. When it feels like your body is derailing your plans, and is doing a poor job at recovering, because it’s not fast enough according to your desires. Covid-19 made healthy people experience that frustration, when everything started getting cancelled and much is still on hold 8 months la...ter. But it’s a deeper disappointment when it feels like it’s your own body that’s putting your desires on hold. Every frustration is reminding me that I’m not God: i can’t control everything, even if I wish I could. Patience is still on the curriculum of my current season. It is the kind I’m learning to be generous in applying, especially to myself. This includes my creative process. I’m learning to surrender my ‘how’ and keep my eyes on the ‘what’ that I’m trying to create. God is still in control amidst the never ending questions that continues to flood us. Jesus is still on the boat even if it feels as if He’s asleep. A reminder to you and to myself: You’ll get to shore on time. ...#writingcommunity #poetry #words #devotional #longsuffering #patience #blessings #spilledthoughts #prayer #poem #lamentation #faith #yegarts #yeg #time #chronicillness #healing #givethanks #lupusle #chronicwarrior #chronicdreamers #reflections #autoimmunedisease ##cidp #smallmercies #prayers #gratitude See more

Sometimes the body and heart needs reminding that: You’re a triumph A victory in progress... An unfinished story that can still end well . #writingcommunity #poetry #words #devotional #longsuffering #patience #spilledthoughts #prayer #poem #lamentation #faith #yegarts #yeg #time #chronicillness #healing #givethanks #lupusle #chronicwarrior #chronicdreamers #reflections #autoimmunedisease ##cidp #smallmercies #prayers #gratitude #raynauds #polymyositiswarrior See more