Lauren Childs
Lauren's All about M.E. knitathon
Fundraising for ME Association
Story
Hello lovely people,
Over the course of the year I am asking Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) sufferers, family & friends to join together and knit a 6" by 6" square in the hope that linking all these individuals together will unite us in strength and hope and the more it grows, so will the awareness and understanding of ME/CFS.
Three years ago, I was a active, ambitious, healthy 23 year old, who had graduated from university and was working as a Occupational Therapist. I thought I had the world at my feet until I was struck down with ME/CFS (& fibromyalgia & POTS). Now all I want is a "normal life", where I wake up feeling full of energy, with no pain, no fatigue, muscle weakness or dizziness and where everyday I am able to live life & not just merely exist. I have been caged by this cruel illness, where my dreams of traveling the world & doing my masters has been put on pause. ME/CFS robs people of their family life, social life, personality, hobbies and careers. There is no respite for ME/CFS sufferers; it is a day to day struggle.
ME/CFS is a severe, neurological condition which affects over 250,000 people in the uk. ME/CFS is misunderstood and very under researched, leading to people like myself suffering in silence without medical support and effective treatment. ME/CFS is widely misunderstood due to it being an invisible illness. The smallest amount of physical/ mental exertion causes our symptoms to worsen and leave us feeling very unwell in bed for days, even weeks. There is no other illness which encompasses symptoms in so many different bodily systems.
Just imagine waking up and being so weak and fatigued that you cannot get yourself out of bed? Or feeling so dizzy and faint that you cannot stand for short periods of time to brush your teeth or shower? Not forgetting those sand bags attached to your legs when you climb the stairs. Even reading a few pages of a book causes you to feel like you've been hit over the head with a hammer. The symptom list is vast from palpatations, chronic pain, poor circulation, fainting, light/ sound sensitivity, insomnia, brain fog, migraines, flu like symptoms, digestive problems and cardiac issues.The everyday activities healthy individuals take for granted, ME/CFS sufferers struggle everyday to try and accomplish.
All proceeds will go to the ME Association who support ME/CFS sufferers & their families but also fund critical research into the disease. One day, together, we will beat this illness and we will be able to press play on our lives again :)
Over the course of the year I am asking Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) sufferers, family & friends to join together and knit a 6" by 6" square in the hope that linking all these individuals together will unite us in strength and hope and the more it grows, so will the awareness and understanding of ME/CFS.
Three years ago, I was a active, ambitious, healthy 23 year old, who had graduated from university and was working as a Occupational Therapist. I thought I had the world at my feet until I was struck down with ME/CFS (& fibromyalgia & POTS). Now all I want is a "normal life", where I wake up feeling full of energy, with no pain, no fatigue, muscle weakness or dizziness and where everyday I am able to live life & not just merely exist. I have been caged by this cruel illness, where my dreams of traveling the world & doing my masters has been put on pause. ME/CFS robs people of their family life, social life, personality, hobbies and careers. There is no respite for ME/CFS sufferers; it is a day to day struggle.
ME/CFS is a severe, neurological condition which affects over 250,000 people in the uk. ME/CFS is misunderstood and very under researched, leading to people like myself suffering in silence without medical support and effective treatment. ME/CFS is widely misunderstood due to it being an invisible illness. The smallest amount of physical/ mental exertion causes our symptoms to worsen and leave us feeling very unwell in bed for days, even weeks. There is no other illness which encompasses symptoms in so many different bodily systems.
Just imagine waking up and being so weak and fatigued that you cannot get yourself out of bed? Or feeling so dizzy and faint that you cannot stand for short periods of time to brush your teeth or shower? Not forgetting those sand bags attached to your legs when you climb the stairs. Even reading a few pages of a book causes you to feel like you've been hit over the head with a hammer. The symptom list is vast from palpatations, chronic pain, poor circulation, fainting, light/ sound sensitivity, insomnia, brain fog, migraines, flu like symptoms, digestive problems and cardiac issues.The everyday activities healthy individuals take for granted, ME/CFS sufferers struggle everyday to try and accomplish.
All proceeds will go to the ME Association who support ME/CFS sufferers & their families but also fund critical research into the disease. One day, together, we will beat this illness and we will be able to press play on our lives again :)