Naked Realities: Living with an Invisible Chronic Illness

Welcome,Your arriving on this page suggests you’re managing a complex illness or know someone who is.Please note: Naked Realities is a no-holds-barred look at chronic illness. There is no sugar coating within these pages.Those of us living with any of the complex illnesses, such as me/cfs, fibromyalgia, Lyme, or long covid, are grouped under the moniker, ‘the millions missing.’ We have grown to become a considerable throng of people whose disability makes it challenging to be seen and heard.If you are one of us, these reflections are for you.This book delves into five themes:Living with chronic diseaseLiving with symptomsLiving with peopleLiving with lossLiving with curiosityAn iconic painting from one of history’s celebrated artists accompanies each poetic reflection. The writings speak to the realities and hardships of living with a disability, while the paintings, through their beauty, celebrate the restorative acts of resting and sleep.These reflections arose to help remind us that each breath breathed is a breath of life and possibility. May this bookhelp you grapple with what has come crashing into your world and give you language to communicate your experience with others. Let’s together explore the naked realities of living day-to-day with a long-haul condition.I wish you the best in your health marathon.––The Missing NeighborNaked Realities is a beautiful book that gives hope and inspiration to patients and their families. It is made even more meaningful as the author wrote it in brief windows of time, in a life spent struggling with illness, and yet still thriving. I recommend this book to my patients and those who struggle with invisible chronic illnesses.––Dr. Jane McKay: BSP, MD, FRCPC, FACP General Internal Medicine Read more