About Heather
Hi, I'm Heather.
I'm so glad you found this site.
I am a mother of wonderful spirited 7 year old boy and a wife to my amazing and supportive husband Marc.
Most days you can find me in comfortable clothes cuddling with my cats.
With the help of my support systems, I work on creating content and resources for this website.
I enjoy helping people, and this is one way I am able to help the chronic illness community.
Heather's Story with Autoimmune Diseases
I have had a turbulent, yet not uncommon, experience with Sjogren's Disease.
I had early juvenile Sjogren's symptoms which went un-recognized and un-diagnosed.
At age 20 I started looking for answers to my ill health, which lead to 8 years of searching.
I was finally diagnosed with Sjogren's at age 28.
I've now been living with the disease for almost a decade. Most of those years have been a blessing with remission and minor flare ups, but recent years have been dreadful disease progression and unmanageable symptoms.
How This Website Got Started
This website and blog project started out as a small passion project, to keep me busy when I was in pain, in bed, and unable to work.
I will admit, the majority of my posts are geared towards Sjogren's.
Why? you might ask.
Well for one, Sjogren's was what I struggle with the most day to day.
I also found that there is a significant need for understanding nd awareness for Sjogren's.
Lastly, I know that others out there are looking for support, information, and resources to help them take an active role in their health.
Because of all that, I decided to start this website.
How These Self Care Resources Can Help You
This site has transformed into a place to help readers figure out how to manage their illness. Topics include:
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Sjogren's, lupus and other rheumatic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, etc.
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Mental health, including the management of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and stress management
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Chronic illness and chronic pain management
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Family life including parenting with a disability
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If you are currently dealing with any of the following, or want to learn more please stay tuned.