Colorado: The Invisible Disabilities Association
Within these groups across the United States and other countries, there are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and so forth. As Dr. Jemsek states, “sooner or later” your family will be affected by this growing disease and you, too, will be trying to make a difference.
“In the Lymelight” ~ The Invisible Disabilities Association
Sherri and Wayne are a son, daughter, entrepreneurs, advocates, and supporters. The Connell’s are devoted in the efforts to help those with invisible diseases that cause great pain and suffering. Sherri battled with chronic symptoms that ranged from chronic headaches, fatigue, strep-throat, fevers, bronchitis and pneumonia to more serious neurological problems with daily symptoms of bone-crushing fatigue, unbearable exhaustion, torturous pain, memory loss, cognitive dysfunctions, vertigo, migraines, nausea, difficulty breathing, blurred vision, etc. this led to her paralysis and an MS diagnosis for several years. Only later to find out it was Late Chronic Lyme Disease. (Read the award-winning author’s story by Sherri: A Lifetime in 27 Years.)
In Sherri’s words, my “biggest grievance those debilitated by a chronic condition have is that those around them often do not believe what they are going through is real, because to others they “look good.”…”those of who are ill will really hear, ‘But I don’t believe you, because I can’t see it for myself.’ This has caused strains and even the ending of relationships, because people jump to the conclusion that since the person “LOOKS good,” they are simply being lazy, malingering or exaggerating.”
Then her husband, Wayne, “offered to put some of my journal writings on the internet.” (Sherri received theHal O’Leary Inspiration Award in 2005.) “This way I would not have to grapple for the right words, but could just tell people, ‘Check out the website.’ We figured the only people who would read from the site, would be friends and family.” They were overwhelmed with email from across the world; hence, The Invisible Disabilities Advocate (now The Invisible Disabilities Association-IDA) was created.
Wayne Connell founded the IDA “in order to help loved ones better understand how to be a source of support and encouragement to their friend or family member living with chronic illness, pain, injury and/or disability.” Then later, formed the “Where is God Ministries.” The two organizations strive to make a difference by helping people to be heard and understood. They also provide the tools to assist them in giving them strength and courage to persevere in their chronic illnesses.
The IDA has over 20,000 visitors each month. Wayne puts in a lot of time and effort by offering “seminars to businesses, disability groups, health organizations, hospitals and churches.”
You can go to the Invisible Disabilities Association to find out more and may be you can help them too.
Lyme-Aware is an independent organization and has no affiliation with this organization or individual.
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