The cracked Zebra

  Day 29 – What To Say To Someone With Chronic Illness We all may have a list of things  not  to say to someone with a chronic illness, but what about things you  should  say?  I'm gonna stop by for a visit. this is one of my favorite things to hear from a friend. I love it when one or two people come to visit me in my home. Home is my happy place. It is where all my stuff is. All the stuff that keeps me healthy and comfortable. I know the seating will be comfortable, I know the food won't make me sick and I know if something did happen I would have whatever I need available when I need it. This reduces all the stress I have from going out. I don't even have to brace up if I don't want to. I can just sit back and relax with a good friend. Now that's the life! _________________________________________________ How can I help you?   This is another phrase I like to hear. I DO NOT like to ask for help. Asking for help was always a sign of weakness growing ...

  Day 28 – 3 Things You’re Grateful For A day of gratitude! Talk about 3 things you’re grateful for. I am a very blessed person. I have so many things in my life that I am thankful for. Is at the absolute top of my list! I have a fantastic husband who works hard at everything he does. He always wants to be the best at everything from being a good husband to a great father, and provider for our family. He even does the little things like emptying the dishwasher and making sure the hot tub is clean and healthy for my therapy. He really is a gem. Then there are my 7 beautiful children. From oldest to youngest there are so many blessings mixed in. Each child is growing each day to be the best human they can be. They are all Kind and thoughtful individuals who truly make this world a better place and I am so very thankful God entrusted them to me for the time he did. Although most of them are off-adulting in the most fantastic ways they will forever be my babies. That probably sums me u...

  Day 27 – Gift Ideas For People With Chronic Illness There are so many gift ideas it is really hard to just pick a few to take a closer look at a few considerations first. Be mindful of allergies – especially for those with MCAS. People may be allergic to certain types of foods, ingredients, lotions or perfumes, fabrics, smells, and really the list just keeps going. Consider offering services - Certain tasks that are very easy for you may be quite taxing for someone with a chronic illness. Emptying the dishwasher may take you 5 min where it takes them 10 plus a couple hours to recover from the bending, twisting, and reaching involved. If in doubt about the suitability of gifts , vouchers can be a good option as the recipient can buy something that works for them. Consider joining together with friends  to save for larger/more expensive items that the recipient would never otherwise be able to buy themselves. One of my favorite gifts was the Heated blanket my husband picked u...

Day 5 – Warning Signs of Symptom Flare Flares are when people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or Hypermobile Spectrum Disorder experience a worsening of symptoms. This can come on suddenly or just be a worsening of already experienced symptoms. Most of us have “triggers.” Basically, triggers are things or activities that set off the flare. For me both extreme heat and cold are triggers. So here in Canada, the summer and winter months are quite brutal. The heat tends to trigger my Pots so I feel weak and lightheaded. Almost like I'm gonna pass out. I have had to lie down on the ground in public places to prevent passing out but that is a story for another day. As I have said before no two zebras are alike and this is the same for triggers. Something that triggers me may not trigger someone else with hEDS.  Triggers can be anything. Strong smells, Certain foods, or even Environmental situations. For some triggers could be as simple as increased or decr...

Day 4 – Shine a Light on a Type of EDS or HSD ⁠The Light it Up Challenge is an annual May event that asks the community to request their local buildings and monuments be lit up for awareness on May 4!  I have requested the CN tower in Toronto be lit up Black and white To help get the word out. If you participated in the light-up challenge let us know in the comments where you requested to be lit so we can check it out! Now let's shine the light on the types of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome…. As of today, there are 14 known types of EDS you can click to learn more about each type if you like.  Arthrochalasia EDS (aEDS) Brittle Cornea Syndrome (BCS) Cardiac-valvular EDS (cvEDS) Classical EDS (cEDS) Classical-like EDS (clEDS) Dermatosparaxis EDS (dEDS) Hypermobile EDS (hEDS) Hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) Kyphoscoliotic EDS (kEDS) Musculocontractural EDS (mcEDS) Myopathic EDS (mEDS) Periodontal EDS (pEDS) Spondylodysplastic EDS (spEDS) Vascula...