"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." ~Albert Einstein
The CIAA is a student run organization whose main purpose is to spread awareness and information of chronic illnesses to the students at the University of Oklahoma, the city of Norman, and the state of Oklahoma.
We hold meetings on a who feels healthy basis to discuss how we can further educate others about chronic illnesses such as Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple sclerosis. We are also here to provide support to those fighting or those affected indirectly from chronic illnesses. Please e-mail us at ciaaou@gmail.com and tell us your story and interests in the group.
Please visit our resource page and read the spoon theory! It's a great example of what living with a chronic illness feels like in terms anyone can understand.
My Story
September 2009
Hello, my name is Callie Hansen. I was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Yes, it is a label, but it is not what defines me. I am also a fiance, daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, student, teacher, singer, friend, and advocate. I learned my passion for helping others and facilitating support groups from my amazingly strong mother. She is my inspiration and someone who shows me everyday you do not have to stop living just because someone diagnosed you. Somehow you have to find the strength to fight. You have to prove to everyone you can accomplish anything you want if you set your mind to it. Sure, accommodations must be made sometimes, but in the end they are worth it.
Everyday begins with a battle that sometimes can defeat the whole day. Battle number one, can I/ will I get out of bed today. Seems like a simple feat, no? It can be. Some days, like this morning, it is no problem at all. I feel normal for a day and wake up, roll right out of bed, take a nice hot shower, and conquer my day one step at a time. Other days, more often than not, this is far from the truth. It sounds simple, even lazy... but some days you just can not get out of bed. You can convince yourself that if you just close your eyes again you truly could sleep for forever. It would simply take too much energy to move, your muscles are screaming from every core and your body feels like a stone that would take all your might to budge. On those days it can take me up to an hour and a half to win that battle. But, eventually, I get out of bed and drag through the rest of my day with no one even knowing my constant battles.
When you have fibro, you understand not to take simple things for granted. Taking a shower, something that should be an everyday normal thing, can seem like a daunting task. Imagine not only taking a shower and washing your hair. Being a girl, this could take a little longer, we have to condition and all... but imagine taking your shower with 20 lb weights on either arm. Some days I can take up to five breaks to rest my arms before I even get to my lovely dove conditioner. It takes so much to complete something a year ago was muscle memory. And, I don't think I'll go into the being a girl and shaving your legs.... Let's just say. Bending over that long... Not a good idea.
Being a student can also be a difficult task for those with chronic illnesses. At a job site your boss hopefully understands and together you have found a way to adapt your work site to make work more possible without using all your spoons. (check the resource page). But at school, you are constantly changing teachers, your classes are from one end of campus to the other. And most students will say anything to get out of an assignment so it's difficult to get a professor to understand your exact problems without seeming lazy, or like a liar. It's like walking a fine line of how much you explain, and how much you just suck it up and deal with and try your best.
Well, I don't think I'll tell you everything. At least not on here, check out my blog for recent updates on thoughts, struggles, accomplishments, and ideas. I hope this site will help others understand the everyday struggles that people with Fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses go through. I also would love this to be a place for people to learn about chronic illnesses, share stories, and help find support. I know, I'm asking a lot. lol. If I can help one person understand more fully, then I'd consider this an accomplishment. Even if it is only my faithful fiance who reads this. Love you!
Hello, my name is Callie Hansen. I was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Yes, it is a label, but it is not what defines me. I am also a fiance, daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, student, teacher, singer, friend, and advocate. I learned my passion for helping others and facilitating support groups from my amazingly strong mother. She is my inspiration and someone who shows me everyday you do not have to stop living just because someone diagnosed you. Somehow you have to find the strength to fight. You have to prove to everyone you can accomplish anything you want if you set your mind to it. Sure, accommodations must be made sometimes, but in the end they are worth it.
Everyday begins with a battle that sometimes can defeat the whole day. Battle number one, can I/ will I get out of bed today. Seems like a simple feat, no? It can be. Some days, like this morning, it is no problem at all. I feel normal for a day and wake up, roll right out of bed, take a nice hot shower, and conquer my day one step at a time. Other days, more often than not, this is far from the truth. It sounds simple, even lazy... but some days you just can not get out of bed. You can convince yourself that if you just close your eyes again you truly could sleep for forever. It would simply take too much energy to move, your muscles are screaming from every core and your body feels like a stone that would take all your might to budge. On those days it can take me up to an hour and a half to win that battle. But, eventually, I get out of bed and drag through the rest of my day with no one even knowing my constant battles.
When you have fibro, you understand not to take simple things for granted. Taking a shower, something that should be an everyday normal thing, can seem like a daunting task. Imagine not only taking a shower and washing your hair. Being a girl, this could take a little longer, we have to condition and all... but imagine taking your shower with 20 lb weights on either arm. Some days I can take up to five breaks to rest my arms before I even get to my lovely dove conditioner. It takes so much to complete something a year ago was muscle memory. And, I don't think I'll go into the being a girl and shaving your legs.... Let's just say. Bending over that long... Not a good idea.
Being a student can also be a difficult task for those with chronic illnesses. At a job site your boss hopefully understands and together you have found a way to adapt your work site to make work more possible without using all your spoons. (check the resource page). But at school, you are constantly changing teachers, your classes are from one end of campus to the other. And most students will say anything to get out of an assignment so it's difficult to get a professor to understand your exact problems without seeming lazy, or like a liar. It's like walking a fine line of how much you explain, and how much you just suck it up and deal with and try your best.
Well, I don't think I'll tell you everything. At least not on here, check out my blog for recent updates on thoughts, struggles, accomplishments, and ideas. I hope this site will help others understand the everyday struggles that people with Fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses go through. I also would love this to be a place for people to learn about chronic illnesses, share stories, and help find support. I know, I'm asking a lot. lol. If I can help one person understand more fully, then I'd consider this an accomplishment. Even if it is only my faithful fiance who reads this. Love you!
All information was taken from outside sources. I do not claim to have written them. I simply compiled them together to make it easier for my group to find general information and be led to proper web-sites to find more specific information.
