Laura Hillenbrand, the author of "Seabiscuit" and "Unbroken" suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She wrote about her illness in such a moving way in the magazine The New Yorker that it won the 2004 National Magazine Award. You may read that article here. You may find more information about Laura Hillenbrand and her books at her website just here. I was thrilled and honored to have a received a personal note from Louis Zamperini telling me that Laura Hillenbrand was writing a book about him ("Unbroken"). Because of her illness, it took almost nine years for her to finish the book. Louis Zamperini thinks so much of the courage that Ms. Hillenbrand shows in fighting her illness that he gave her one of his Purple Hearts.
Hayley, I received this get-well card from a sweet friend when I was not well, and I loved it so much, I am sharing it here with you...it is a hand-made card from Scotland and it is supposed to represent "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down." Hope you will like this card and this post! God bless you.
Love,
Kay
This is so sweet, I love the card, everyone loves Mary Poppins don't they? I will have to check out the books, thank you so much for sharing this post, it really is very kind!
ReplyDeleteSending hugs! Hayley
I only wish I could have written a better post for you! I did remember that I wanted to find the magazine article that Laura Hillenbrand had written for the New Yorker magazine...I have gone back and added that to my post, please read it and let me know what you think, okay?
DeleteTake care. I am praying for you.
I have finally read the article - it was quite long so I had to keep going back to it! Thank you for sharing it, what a remarkable woman! The spoon card has received a lot of positive comments! A lot of chronic illness sufferers call ourselves 'spoonies' as 'the spoon theory' (you can find it on google) is an excellent way to explain to people what day to day life is like using spoons metaphorically, so it was a perfect card to feature! Thanks again for writing this =)
DeleteTake care, Hayley-Eszti
Thank you, Hayley! I am so glad that you think Laura Hillenbrand is remarkable too! And so funny, I really had no idea how much the spoon card would go with this post, and then, when I read some of YOUR posts and you spoke of "spoonies" and I looked it up, I was surprised to learn of the "spoon" theory, since I had never heard of it!
DeleteThis is why I like to blog!! Thank YOU.
With BEST wishes for better health for you and for all who sufffer from this illness. Love, Kay
I love the card. As one who suffers from Chronic Fatigue (though from a different cause) I can't thank you enough for this post, Kay. People do seem to find it difficult to understand how debilitating chronic pain and chronic fatigue are.
ReplyDeleteHello John!
DeleteOh, I am glad that this post pleases you. I felt that I should have written more, but I wanted folks to go the links and read more about it there. If you get a chance look at Laura Hillenbrand's website, she is truly a gifted writer.
Happy to see your comment here, hope you are enjoying a nice Spring!
That is a lovely card.
ReplyDeleteI used to work with someone who developed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, it was very sad to see the change in her. Unfortunately, it is one of those diseases that, because of a lack of understanding, a lot of people think is just down to laziness. I think a lot of sufferers get very little help or sympathy.
Yes, that is it exactly...it must be very difficult for those with this illness, not for the illness alone, but for the fact that it is so misunderstood!
DeleteAnd I am glad you like the card too! x
Kay, I remember your original post with the "spoonful of sugar"-card. It is so kind of you - and so much like you! - to write this post because you care so much about someone else's wellbeing.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't know anybody who suffers CFS, but I've read about the illness and wish more could be done to help those who are affected.
PS: I absolutely LOVE your current header photo!
DeleteSince I wrote this post, I added a link to the magazine article written by Laura Hillenbrand. Read it when you have the chance, it tells you so much about the illness.
DeleteAnd that header photo is from Sussex in England! Doesn't it look like the Hundred Acre Wood from Winnie the Pooh?!
Such a pretty card! CFS is awful, i know people with it and other chronic illnesses who don't "look" sick, and who get a lot of grief as a consequence.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is so unfair that they do!
DeleteGlad you like the card too!
I love the card! What a delightful sentiment to send to one that is not well. Will be adding those suffering from this disabling disease to my prayer list.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you! And yes please, add this is to your prayer list! xx
DeleteWhat a sweet and special card! I pray that they find a cure for CFS, it's such a horrible illness. What kind hearted to post, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHello Nancy!
DeleteThank you for YOUR sweet comment! And I see that you have signed up to be a follower of my blog! You have made my day!!
And you have a lovely blog too, love your YELLOW post, it's wonderful.
I am so pleased that you and so many others liked that card. I will tell the owner of "Mosaic" - the shop where I buy my "special" cards - when I next visit it. I know she will be very touched. I hope the card works its magic again.
ReplyDeleteI think CFS used to be known as "Yuppie Flu" at one time but thankfully it is now recognised as a particularly nasty illness.
I love your header picture. It has just got to be somewhere in Sussex - Yes?
Hey Pat!
DeleteYes! When I was writing this post, I tried to think of a photo of something, something that made ME feel happy whenever I saw it, and I thought of this card! When it was on my mantel, the sun would hit those crystals and it would sparkle and shine and ...well, it would just make me smile! :-)
It MUST be magic! Yes, be sure and tell the sweet owner of "Mosaic" I said so!
I remember it being called "Yuppie Flu" now that you mention it, and I remember very well how it was thought that it was not really an illness...
The header photo! YEs, you got that just right...it is from Sussex! And it reminds me very much of the Hundred Acre Wood, can't you just see Pooh and PIglet walking up that path?
What a pretty card and it is wonderful of you to send it to your friend. I have never met someone with CFS, but it does sound debilitating.
ReplyDeleteHa! I notice that my photo of that sweet card is a bit out of focus! Ah well, that is my photography skills for you! Good thing I am such a talented writer, HA! :-)
DeleteSadly I do know what this means because the young woman next door to me has had it since the late 80s. She isn't a young woman anymore. And she lost most of her adult life to this disease which most people (including doctors) didn't really believe in when she was first ill.
ReplyDeleteIt must be terrible to have this but I think to not have believe that you are so ill must be such a blow to one's mental well-being. I didn't know that much about it, until I read Laura HIllenbrand's writings about it. Maybe more people will be aware of it since her latest book is so popular. They might learn even more after the movie "Unbroken" comes out at Christmas 2014. Here's hoping.
DeleteKay, ~ I adore that card with the spoonful of sugar ~ that was so sweet of you whoever made that for you! Over the years I've heard bits and pieces about CFS and it makes me so sad to think of someone suffering with that. I did know that Hillebrand has it which make her books ever more amazing than they already are!!!! And, by the way, I'm IN LOVE with your header photo......oh my goodness, it looks like something straight out of a dream!!! XOXO
ReplyDeleteI know I have had that card on here before, but I do love it very much!
DeleteI knew that you had read "Unbroken" and liked it. If you get the chance, read that link to her magazine article and you will know more about her illness.
My header photo is from East Sussex in England, you would love it, let's go there and walk together!
What a sweet card.
ReplyDeleteI read Hayley-Eszti's post on Jim's blog. It must be very hard.
I am looking forward to the movie - I hope they do it justice.
Hey Terry!
DeleteGood to see your comment here!
Hayley has such a positive attitude, I just wish a cure could be found for her illness and for anyone else suffering.
And I am very much looking forward to the movie, you know I will be seeing it as soon as it comes out!
Being in healthcare since the 70's I remember when the term chronic fatigue syndrome came out. You are right...most physicians claimed it was all mental and for many years people were looked down on..and those people were mostly female. I feel so bad for anyone who has this as it must be so frustrating to get a good diagnosis and treatment. We've come a long way since then and hopefully a cure will be found one day. My husband is a Chiropractor and treats many patients who have this. Thanks for bringing this to people's attention with your post. I have to comment on the card too...how clever and so sweet. Great idea. Have a good weekend Kay....sadly, it's almost over!
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for your comment, and from a medical viewpoint!
DeleteGlad you like the card too! Hope you are having a good week, sometimes the time gets away with me!
Hillenbrand's battle certainly is courageous--she is one of my favorite authors. Also, sorry to see that Shirley Dermon's remains were found...
ReplyDeleteI really like the way she writes too!
DeleteYes, the woman who had been missing for some time was found by a fisherman in Lake Oconee. Very sad, I hope that they discover more clues to lead them to the murderer/murderers.
What a fascinating post. I had no idea that CFS was so debilitating. I suppose, in my ignorance, I just thought of it as more of a gentle ennui. I hope someone soon figures out what causes it so that these poor sufferers can get some relief. xoxo
ReplyDeleteHello Carol!
DeleteNice to hear from you. I would not have known about this illness had it not been for Laura Hillenbrand. If you can, click on that magazine article and you will see what a wonderful writer she is, but at the same time how much it has cost her in terms of her energy. xx
I've known a few people over the years with CFS, and most of them were young and active at the time. It's a shame there is still no real culprit found that causes it and no cure. Seabiscuit is a good book and I've seen the film just recently on TV here.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you have read "Seabiscuit".
DeleteNow, you MUST read "Unbroken"! Please, promise that you will!
Mr. Louis Zamperini is just ...well, read the book!! and you will know what I mean!!
I've had two friends with chronic fatigue syndrome and it was debilitating. The sad thing is people just didn't understand what the illness was or credit it. It takes courage to keep fighting this disease.
ReplyDelete