{"id":1552,"date":"2015-02-12T19:20:42","date_gmt":"2015-02-12T19:20:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1552"},"modified":"2015-02-08T19:42:53","modified_gmt":"2015-02-08T19:42:53","slug":"hope-for-chronically-ill-teens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2015\/02\/hope-for-chronically-ill-teens.html","title":{"rendered":"Hope for Chronically Ill Teens"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Maureen<\/a>As a teenager, it seemed as if I was always getting sick. “Regular” things, like colds and flu, and “Really Wierd Illnesses” that, in hindsight, were probably manifestations and flares of the lupus I would later learn that I have. It wasn’t easy being sick so often. I missed out on school classes and other activities, and felt internal stress heaped on the normal development we go through when transitioning from child to young adult.<\/p>\n

But there was a benefit to being sick, too. Yes, those “bad stretches” have their positive sides – if we look for them. And now, as I am older and have the luxury of looking back, I can say that the lessons I learned, consciously or unconsciously, have helped me, I hope, be a better and unique individual. Here are some of the benefits; if you are a teen and have a chronic illness, I offer them as food for thought and, I pray, hope:<\/p>\n

o \u00a0If you suffer from a chronic illness, you are in a unique and wonderful position to learn just how amazing, delicate, and complex our bodies are. You learn how to better care for yourself, and throughout your life, you can apply that knowledge to yourself and others.<\/p>\n

o \u00a0You can develop into a very unique person. Yes, it hurts to have to study at home and not participate in a lot of the “usual” things teens do. But your chronic illness is allowing you time and space to develop your very individual self – hopes, dreams, and plans, too. By all means, work hard to build good, positive and nurturing friendships and enjoy this time of your life. But also embrace the precious, singular person you are and are becoming!<\/p>\n

o \u00a0Talk to God as a friend and build your spirituality. When I was so very sick as a child, my mother told me, “Even if you are alone, God is with you. You can always talk to God.” That advice has sustained me and inspired me so very much, and it’s also been a great comfort. Yes, sometimes my talks with God are not easy ones. Sometimes, he gets quite an earful! But always, I am grateful for His presence and work in my life – and for the ability to talk with him no matter when.<\/p>\n

o \u00a0Develop your dreams and develop a plan. \u00a0Today more than ever, people with chronic illness are able to be active and productive in a variety of areas. Even if you are considered “totally disabled,” you have something to give, and should keep dreaming – and planning – how you can take your many attributes and gifts and use them for the good of all.<\/p>\n

o \u00a0You are strong! \u00a0Throughout your life, you will encounter people who say, “I can’t make it.” \u00a0“I can’t do this.” “This situation is just too hard for me to handle.” The tough things you are going through now are showing you that you have a tremendous amount of inner strength and resilience. This enables you to be an inspiration for others who have not quite developed their inner strength like you have. And it enables you to guide them through their tough patches in the days and years ahead.<\/p>\n

Above all, know that your life matters. You matter. And although life is not exactly easy, it is full of wonderful blessings – beginning with your unique and God-given spirit!<\/p>\n

Joy and peace,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a teenager, it seemed as if I was always getting sick. “Regular” things, like colds and flu, and “Really Wierd Illnesses” that, in hindsight, were probably manifestations and flares of the lupus I would later learn that I have. It wasn’t easy being sick so often. I missed out on school classes and other…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,360,1242,1047,578,379,1420,1245,1247,1246],"tags":[945,1514,1518,1517,1515,1513,1516],"class_list":["post-1552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chronic-pain-and-illness","category-determination","category-food-for-thought","category-good","category-goodness","category-lupus-2","category-pain-2","category-positive","category-rising-above-tragedy","category-uplifting","tag-being-unique","tag-chronically-ill-teens","tag-health-and-hope","tag-sickness-and-hope","tag-teens-and-illness","tag-teens-who-are-ill","tag-teens-who-are-sick"],"yoast_head":"\nHope for Chronically Ill Teens - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2015\/02\/hope-for-chronically-ill-teens.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hope for Chronically Ill Teens - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As a teenager, it seemed as if I was always getting sick. “Regular” things, like colds and flu, and “Really Wierd Illnesses” that, in hindsight, were probably manifestations and flares of the lupus I would later learn that I have. 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. Through the blog, she hopes to bring issues of health, wellness, and spirit into focus and, especially, inspire others that, no matter what health challenges, illness, or hardships they endure, each person can find a good way to realize the wonderful potential God has placed within each heart and soul.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.maureenpratt.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/author\/mpratt"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/548"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1552"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1553,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552\/revisions\/1553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}