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Welcome to another post for the ’12 Days of being Chronically Thankful’, a revised version of the famous ’12 Days of Christmas’ for those living with chronic illness, like me.

On the ‘6th Day of Christmas’ I was chronically thankful for…a theatre production!

Now, living with a chronic condition like mine, I am unable to attend a theatre production in person – most theatres are very big with high ceilings, as most of you are aware, high ceilings, and flashing fluorescent lights are a trigger for the episodes of severe vertigo that I often experience, and hence going to see a theatre production would make me extremely unwell.

However, a few weeks back, during one of my first trips out with my P.A, we visited my local library, and lo and behold I found a copy of a DVD of a production of ‘Les Misèrables’ that was filmed at the O2 for the show’s 25 year Anniversary.  I was so excited as  it is a show that I haven’t wanted to see for years, but because of my condition I have been unable to go and see it in London.

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As a result, I instantly decided that I would rent it from the library, and on a day in which I felt really bad, leaving me unable to get out of bed, I managed to watch it on my computer.  And I instantly fell in love with the musical – the story, the songs just everything about it!  And for a couple of hours, I forgot about how bad I felt, I was still aware of the dizziness and vertigo as they are hard to ignore!  However, I was so engrossed with the production of this amazing musical that I was able to ignore it, and just really enjoy the DVD!

And now I am equally excited for the film version of Les Misérables, starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway among others – and perhaps even planning a trip to the cinema with my Personal Assistant, it will be difficult for me being in the building but I am determined to achieve this feat!

And for that I am ‘chronically’ thankful!

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Welcome again to the ’12 Days Of Christmas – a celebration of everything that I am thankful for whilst living with a chronic illness.  On the 5th Day of Christmas…I was thankful for an object!

The object that I am thankful for?  Well definitely lately it has been my crutch.  An object that comes with me wherever I go, and as in my opinion, symptoms have become worse lately, I find that I am needing it more and more whilst in the house.  I rely on this crutch, especially when out, as it often prevents me from experiencing falls ( sometimes falls are very bad, that even the crutch will not prevent them – but for the most part, it saves me!).  It basically just helps me to keep my balance and to help me walk everyday.

And not only is it extremely useful in helping me live my life with the condition, but the crutch is not one of those boring crutches that are provided by the NHS.  Oh no, my crutch is bright pink, is lighter and much quieter than the grey standard crutches (great for when Dad is on nights and is in bed during the day!!) – the crutch feels funky and chronically awesome.  Even when living with a chronic illness, it doesn’t have to stop you from being fashionable!

 

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A picture of what my ‘cool’ crutch looks like!

And for that I am ‘chronically’ thankful!

 

To find out more about the crutch that I own and others in the range, then visit their website at:

www.coolcrutches.com/

 

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Welcome to the 4th Day of this re-working of the ’12 Days of Christmas’ chronically ill style – where we share for 12 days what we are ‘chronically’ thankful for twelve days using given categories (as shown above).

So on the 4th day of Christmas….I was given a book.  Just like with films, I am a huge book lover, some might even say a complete book-worm (seriously I have just finished a book which I only started under 24 hours ago!).   So, choosing just one book to say that I am thankful for is so tough!!

One of the most inspirational books that I personally, have ever read is that of ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’.  Of course, everyone knows the story of Anne Frank, and how her entire family and other Jewish associates were held up in a small flat in Amsterdam for over two years, in hiding from the Nazi’s.  This book, is a true testament to the strength of a young girl and other just like her, whilst also telling the horrors of the Holocaust.  The book is a great example, which demonstrates everything we often take for granted – freedom being the most obvious theme.  It is a book which is though-provoking and makes us thankful for everything in our own lives.

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I am so sorry everyone for missing yesterday and the 3rd Day of Christmas!  I had yet another bad day so really didn’t feel like writing, instead comforting myself with a night in front of the television, snuggling up with a blanket.  So today is a catch-up day with Days 3 and 4 of the 12 Days of being ‘Chronically’ thankful!

So, on the 3rd day, we are asked to write about a person we are thankful.  Normally, I would write about my Mum or dad but I have written about how I much I am grateful for them before.  So, I was instead asking myself who else I am thankful for?  And the answer would be my new Personal Assistant.

Before employing my personal assistant, my days were mostly the same – being stuck inside the house, staring at the same four walls, even doing all the same things.  I was definitely stuck in a rut.  Now at least once a week, my P.A takes me out, and not only to places where I am familiar – I have even started visiting new places, experiencing different new ventures.  And not only is my P.A opening new worlds to me but she is even committed to finding different clubs or associations that caters for people around my age in similar circumstances, to provide me with new opportunities to socialise with others as well as gaining new support and information on anything which can benefit me and improve my overall quality of life.

And for that I am thankful!

 

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Time for the ‘Second Day of Being Chronically Thankful’, and today’s category is…film.

This is a really hard category for me as I am a bit of a film lover, and have many DVD’s in my collection – some for thrills, lots of laughs and many filled with much drama too!  So selecting just one is really difficult!

But I would say that I am ‘chronically thankful’ for one of my favourites – ‘The Proposal’ starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.  A romantic comedy telling the story of Canadian boom editor Margret (Bullock), who after finding out she is due to be deported from the United States as her Visa has expired concocts a hilarious scheme to pretend to be engaged to her long-suffering assistant Andrew (Reynolds)….

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This film is so funny, and never fails to make me laugh, even on those days when the symptoms are making my life hell, instantly cheering me up and putting a great big smile on my face!!

I’m ‘chronically thankful’ for that….

 

What films are you thankful for?…

 

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