Can someone tell me is it Invisible Disabilities Awareness Week from 23rd of September to the 29th or is it Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week. I would like my UK Adhesions Website members to take part in writing Letters to the Editor but I was not sure which name was correct. I am sure I saw Invisible Disabilities written somewhere and then when I saw Shawna French's post with Invisible Chronic Illness, I was not sure.
In Friendship Kath Findlay
The UK Adhesion Society
-----Original Message----- From: adhesions@adhesions.org [mailto:adhesions@adhesions.org] On Behalf Of Shawna French Sent: 19 September 2002 20:42 To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS Subject: MY LETTER TO THE EDITOR WILL BE PUBLISHED!!
Fellow ard friends, I sat down this a.m. and composed a letter in which
I like many of you have hopes of helping others be aware of our fight
and educational awareness. Our town consists of approxamately 8,500
people, our local editor red my letter and agreed to publish it! He said
it was well written and informative. I feel if i touch only a few lives
my efforts will be well worth it. Here is my letter:
Dear Editor;
Did you ever have a medical problem, the Drs. did every test they could
and found nothing? It seems to be such a controversial issue among Drs.
that if they cannot see, feel, and touch pain it does not exsist.
Many drs.believe in listening to the patients, as we know our bodies
well, others excuse us with anything they can as we are frustrating
cases to them, or it is all in our minds.
Sept. 23-29 is Invisible Cronic Illness Awareness Week,I encourage our
communities to educate themselves about an illness called ARd (Adhesion
Related disease).
If you encounter surgery in your life, adhesions form, they are rubber
band like scar tissue and in most cases it is minimal. In others the
adhesions grow at such an alarming rate and attach to organs,
intestines, in which cause a variety of medical problems including
phenominal amounts of pain.
Drs. will often perform a laporoscopy surgery when tests come back neg
to find adhesions are bound tightly everywhere. They cut them out, put
a barrier in to help block more growth. If the barrier does not work,
you are then suseptible to regrowth and it will get worse each and every
time. i know personally about the affects of ARD as I live with severe
adhesions every day.
It is a debilitating illness and I have not been well enough to work for
6 years plus have had continual surgeries for this illness.
I emplore to each and everyone in our community to educate yourself on
ARD, as it is a recognized illness in only 2 states, New York and
Wisc.There are 2 web sites for more info International Adhesion Society
and bombobeach.com, ther you will find my story among so many others
like me.
One day you could have a family member ( or you do right now) with ARD
and not even know it unless you educate yourself. This disease needs
awareness and support so we can bring it to attention of our Drs. as
well as congress. Please support our fight by contacting david Wiseman
of the IAS so we cannot only be treated better medically but also with
our dignity still in tact.
There are so many people in our world that suffer this silent illness
and only we as communities can make a difference. Sincerely, Shawna
French
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