Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt

Living with a chronic illness is one of the most profound ways to walk closely with Jesus Christ. During Lent, when we contemplate our lives and this season of turning back to the Lord, it is fitting to think of the pain and other health challenges we endure as further proof of the honor we…

Now that the weather is more moderate, many of us with chronic illness are going outside, to stores, parks and other public venues. Of course, we take with us our “stuff,” whether mobility assistance devices, oxygen, or, in my case, sun protective clothing, head to toe. After a cooped-up winter, it might feel a little…

I am very excited about the launch of my upcoming book, Don’t Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (available for pre-order now on Amazon.com)! It’s my hope and prayer that the book will help many people, offering ways to develop stronger, more resilient inner spirits and outer stress-relieving techniques so that, when the…

In a way, we who have seriouis health challenges are ambassadors for the patient population that still wants to be as active as possible, but not compromise health to do so. That is, we want to be part of the world, part of society, but cannot entertain environments or situations where we would set our…

Valentine’s Day reminds me of a particular February 14, a snowstorm, and an unexpected revelation. My grandmother had passed, and I was trying to get to her funeral in Chicago. I made it as far as St. Louis when a wicked deep-winter storm grounded all flights. Just before the massive stoppage,, some flights managed to…

I do not know anyone who does not like to eat. And, along with the physical activity of chowing down, we all have our favorite foods.  During Lent, some will give up a favorite or two, as a way of sacrificing something to draw deeper into the season. A priest once encouraged me not to…

Lent begins again, so quickly! Seems like we just celebrated Christmas, with all the joy and light, and are now abruptly throwing that off for something much more somber. At time of atonement, soul-searching, and personal, spiritual cleansing. But do we truly need to forget Christmas? Do we have to proceed into this Lent with…

It’s Heart Health month, and no time like the present to think about being good to your heart, inside and out. Of course, we know the usual things: Having regular check-ups, knowing the signs of a heart attack or stroke, eating healthfully, not smoking, exercising regularly (with our doctors’ advice and guidance). But these things…

The tests I mentioned in an earlier post went very well, and I’m “out the other side” of that particular challenge! And one of the things that helped bring about smooth sailing was what I did in advance of even going out the front door. In my upcoming new book, Don’t Panic!: How to Keep Going…

When you have a chronic illness, and associated expenses and unexpected health upsets, it can be hard to figure out how to give to those who are less fortunate (and, yes, although it might be hard to imagine, there are many people who are less fortunate than even the sickest among us!). There might not…

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