M.E. AWARENESS ALL YEAR ROUND

Bonjour

So what have you done in May to raise awareness? 
I took a bit of a back seat this year, for personal reasons. 
However I know there has been a lot of great awareness raising and initiatives during May. 

I started the month with a blog and I'm going to end it with a blog. 
I just want to say that raising awareness needs to continue all year round and not just in May.
But we need to keep fighting to gain the respect, understanding and treatment that we all need and deserve. 

On a personal note I have recently been made fully aware that, even when you have better days, think you have turned a corner and are able to do more it doesn't mean that you are on the road to recovery. 
M.E. is a remitting and relapsing illness. 
So don't be fooled like me and think you have beaten it. 
It has a way to surprise you and come back with a vengeance. 
It's waiting in the wings just to leap in and re-assume it's role in your life. 

So treat it with respect. Don't do too much when you start to feel better. I know it's easier said than done. We all fall into the same trap at times. Sometimes we have no choice as we have to deal with 'life' and all that comes along. 
For me the two strategies that help are rest and pacing. 

The problem is that it can be a life long illness for some and it's so hard to manage. 
I do believe that there is some hope on the horizon, especially for those young or newly diagnosed. I try to remain optimistic but of course there are days when that's so hard. 

OPTIMISTIC

One day

Some one

Will find

A cure

And I 

Will be 

Healthy 

Once more

So hard

To be 

As years 

Go past

To hope 

That I'll 

Be well 

At last!

  

In the meantime I will continue to raise awareness and understanding through my poetry. I am well on my way to another book of poems about M.E. 

So watch this space! 

I hope you will join me in the continuation to raise awareness and understanding. Every little helps. Why not share this picture so that others can have some idea of what it feels like to have M.E...... 

   

And of course you can share my poems and my blogs. 

Well that's about all for now. 

A bientot

From the French Femme

xxx 

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IN MAY?

Bonjour

Today is May Day. Here in France it’s called La Fête du Travail or La Fêtedu Muguet. It’s a public holiday. The French greet each other with a sprig or small bouquet of Muguet (Lily of the Valley), a flower that is considered a lucky charm. The tradition dates back to the beginning of the century.

 

Today is also the first day of a month of International awareness for the spectrum of illnesses called Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases which includes M.E.

May 12^th is International Awareness Day. You can read more about it and my poem dedicated to that day in my previous blog.

In previous years I have done a lot of awareness raising for The Big Sleep for M.E.

This sort of awareness raising takes its toll on those like myself and others who already face the challenge of living with a long term chronic illness like M.E.

So this year I am taking a step back. I also have personal reasons which need my attention. So sadly I’m unable to contribute at the same level.

Yet I encourage others to take part in awareness raising, even in some small way. Every little effort helps.

Please feel free to use and share any of my poems or blogs which you can find here and on my face book page.

Some of my poems have been wonderfully illustrated by fellow sufferers and convey very powerful messages about what’s it like to live with M.E.

You can also buy my book and share with others to help raise awareness and understanding.

It's available worldwide but here are some of the links on Amazon

In paperback from Amazon UK

Kindle version from Amazon UK

On Amazon Com 

All money I receive from the sales of my book in the month of May I will donate to Invest in ME

So what are you going to do? 

I hope you have a good month of May.

In the french tradition I wish you Bonne Chance

A bientot

From the French Femme

xxxx