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Youth Voices
You are not alone!
Other young people coping
with chronic conditions share your struggles and triumphs.
You can read about
their experiences in the personal essays and websites listed below. You may also
wish to read their quotes in our special booklet
about growing up with an invisible illness.
Coping
Tips and Success Stories From Youth with CFS, FM, or OI
- The rights and needs of
young persons with CFIDS (YPWCs) by Jenn Waterman Youth Allied By CFIDS, Winter 1997
- HOPE: From a
YPWC
by Diana M. Banks The CFIDS Association of America
- Improving communication
between doctors and YPWCs by Sharon Walk Youth Allied By CFIDS, Fall 1996
- New! Up Activities for Down Days: Cook up some fun, get crafty, and try DVDs and books on tape
by Rebecca Moore Pediatric Network News, February 2004
- New! Planning Summer
Get-Togethers by Rebecca Moore Pediatric Network News, February 2004
- Teens overcoming CFIDS
together by Lara Hardinge, Carrie Smith, and Rachel Kanouse
Youth Allied By CFIDS, Fall 1996
- Pajama Party Plus: Where
girls could be girls, in spite of CFIDS by Jennifer Rozines, Katie Foran, and Beth
Warren The CFIDS Chronicle, Fall 1997
- New! Tips from a Teen for Self-Advocacy at School by Christina Pediatric Network News, February 2004
- Homework and Teacher
Tips from a Youth with FM TeenFibroSupport.org
- The thrill of making
it to graduation by Connie Howard The CFIDS Chronicle,
Sept/Oct 1998
- Applying to
college when you have CFIDS by Jean Oviatt Youth Allied By CFIDS, Summer 1996
- Preparing for college
and independence by Rebecca Moore
The CFIDS Chronicle, July/August 1999
- Ten tips for
surviving college with CFIDS by Rebecca Bailey Youth Allied By CFIDS,
Summer 1996
- The Coping
Corner Archive -- Jenn Waterman's columns with positive, humorous, and touching
suggestions about including FUN in life with CFIDS/CFS
Youth Allied By CFIDS
- The CFIDS
Garden Archive -- Sandy Becker's columns about the emotional experience of
growing up with CFIDS
Youth Allied By CFIDS
- Emilie Sutterlin
Speaks Out for YPWCs Who Can't by Jenn Waterman Youth Allied By CFIDS, Fall 1997
Links
to Essays by Youth with CFS, FM, or OI
- We Aren't Faking It
by Lauren, webmaster of the Teenagers with Chronic Illnesses site and one of our forum's Youth Moderators
- Thy silence shall
be no more by Connie Howard Youth Allied By CFIDS, Winter 1997
- Growing Up Sick
by Kelly, a teenager with Fibromyalgia
From Bandaids & Blackboards. Teens: Stories From the Front
- Growing
and learning in my first year with CFIDS by Heather Kaplan
Youth Allied
By CFIDS, Summer 1997
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"The most challenging obstacle I've
overcome, without a doubt, has been learning to
cope with the sleep problems which come with CFIDS."
~ Diana M. Banks
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- I'm not dead, I'm just
homebound by Nichole Foster Youth Allied By CFIDS, Spring 1996
- Right where
I am by Katie Foran Youth Allied By CFIDS, Fall 1997
- Living with CFS by
Eleanor Ward Everyday Warriors.com
- I can't remember
a time when I didn't have CFIDS by Katie Fuller Youth Allied By CFIDS,
Winter 1996
- CFIDS has been
a challenge to me by Sharon Walk Youth Allied By CFIDS, Spring 1996
- Graduation Day
by
Rebecca Moore Youth Allied By CFIDS, Spring 1997
- The road that
was taken: Going to college as a PWC by Regan Harris
Youth Allied By CFIDS, Summer 1997
- Helping Another Child by Megan Robinson
Lyndonville News, Nov 2000
- Please tell us about your favorite essays and
links!
Collections of Essays by Youth with Disabilities
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"And yet the
weekend
was more than just light-hearted fun. It was also naps and
pills and body aches and heartaches and exhaustion. Because of long years of illness,
we all carry a quiet knowledge of life - knowledge beyond our years. We know much
about pain and courage, hope and despair. This knowledge connects us."
~ Katie Foran
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Personal Websites of Youth with CFS, FM, or OI
- Lauren:
NMH, POTS, polycystic ovarian disease, crohns disease, gastrointestinal motility
problems, USA
- Janet Bray: NCS, POTS
- Bek Oberin: FM, CFS,
EDS, Australia
- Katie Burrell:
CFS, FM, Utah, USA
- Jaime Wellman: CFIDS,
Michigan, USA
- Sharon Walk: CFS, OI,
chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, New Jersey, USA
- Beth Warren:
CFS, New Jersey, USA
- Rebecca Moore: CFS, POTS, Lyme
Disease, New York,
USA
- Heather and Her Pen Pal
Page: CFS, FM, NMH, North Carolina, USA
- Audra's Website: Coping
with Fibromyalgia as a Teenager: FM, Texas, USA
- Stephanie's Teen Guide to FMS:
FM, USA
Do have a link to share with us?
If you're a child, adolescent, or young adult with
chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction
syndrome - CFIDS - and as myalgic encephalomyelitis - ME), fibromyalgia (FM),
neurally mediated hypotension (NMH), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
(POTS), or another form of orthostatic intolerance (OI) and you'd like
us to list your website here, please e-mail us at
webmaster@pediatricnetwork.org.
Meet others who share your experiences! Post a note in the Youth Chat
section of the forum.
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