#4 - June 2024
A summary of the month's insights, stories and a flavour of what's to come.
Hello, InflamMed Community and Happy Monday!
What Got My Attention This Past Month
Celine Dion - I Am: Celine Dion
The queen of power ballads, Celine Dion, opens up in the Amazon Prime documentary about her private battle with stiff-person syndrome, a powerful reminder of the invisible struggles many face. Rarely do we see a person of this status be so vulnerable, revealing how long she had been suffering before diagnosis (spoiler: 17 years!), her daily medication regimen, and the impact of her condition through raw footage of her painful spasms.
Stepping Into the Spotlight
Recently, I swapped roles to guest on
’s podcast, sharing my journey with rheumatoid arthritis and the drive behind InflamMed. It was an enriching experience to delve into my personal challenges and the formation of our community. Tune in to uncover the empowerment in our stories and the upcoming projects we’re excited about.Charlotte is breaking down my podcast with Roi over the next month (find out more below).
Life with Chronic Illness
Our daily lives often begin with 'batteries' partially depleted—a metaphor that resonates deeply within our community. I created this visual to help articulate the unique challenges of managing energy day-to-day and underscores our resilience and strategic life management.
Imagery in Chronic Illness: Balancing the Poetic with the Pragmatic
Inspired by Susan Sontag’s work ‘Illness as Metaphor’, in our latest article we dive into how imagery and metaphors like 'burning', 'spoons', and 'icebergs' shape our understanding of health and illness. We explore the powerful role language plays in either supporting or stigmatising those with chronic conditions.
Welcoming New Voices
- , as our new Advising Editor, brings a rich background in scientific research to enhance our community's understanding. Her first series breaking down my podcast with Roi can be found here.
- joins us with a wealth of experience as a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist and health & wellness writer. Read his introduction here.
Invisible Insights Podcast
Catch the latest episodes where we dive deep into the lives and challenges of those impacted by chronic conditions, featuring powerful discussions with:
Alice Hargreaves, founder of Sick in The City (SIC), dedicated to creating more accessible and inclusive workplaces, who shares her own journey of disability, chronic illness, and neurodivergence.
Dr. Aamir Hussain, from an immunology researcher to content creator, whilst caring for his mother with a chronic illness.
You can also find us on Spotify.
Coming Up
On the Invisible Insights podcast:
Adéla Odrihocká, an award-winning rare disease advocate, based in Czech Republic, Adéla has dedicated her career to advocating for individuals living with rare diseases and disabilities. This episode drops later today!
Dr. Raphael Micheroli, based in Zurich, Switzerland, serves as Rheumatologist at both the University Hospital Zurich and UZR Basel. With a strong commitment to a patient-centred approach, he provides invaluable insights into navigating chronic conditions.
Closing Thoughts
Celine Dion's poignant reflection in her documentary, "It’s in the muscles, it’s in the tendons, it’s in the nerves. You can’t see anything. Because it’s not seeable," is a powerful reminder of the unseen battles many in our community face. Let's continue to support each other, share our stories, and build a network that understands and transcends these challenges.
Until next time,
Natasha
P.S. 🌈 Happy Pride! Check out this creative rainbow made from fruit (and a few olives!) by a friend: