Happy 2nd Birthday! | Top 10 Fashionably ill Articles

July 14, 2014 JessicaGimeno

Fashionably ill is celebrating its second birthday! As such, I’m sharing the top ten articles from the past two years. In order of ascending popularity, here they are:

#10 Roadblock: When Mental Health Stigma Prevents Treatment of Physical Pain

#9 10 Things NOT to Say to a Depressed Person; Readers’ Responses

#8 Work & Chronic Illness (Part 1): 4 Things NOT to Say to Sick People

#7 Welcome Back, Dallas!; A Fashion Retrospective

#6 Reliv, a Nutritional Supplement That’s Helped Me

#5 4 Tips for Avoiding Social Media Depression

#4 Top 10 Ways to “Vacationize” Your Hospital Visit or Stay (Part 1/2)

#3 8 Things NOT to Say to a Sick Person

#2 5 Good Ways Illness Changed Me

(drumroll please)

#1 5 Reasons People Abandon a Sick Friend

Honorable mention:

5 Tips For Looking Great While You’re Gaining Weight (Part 1/2)

You Have Blessed Me

I have been blessed again and again by the readers of this blog. When I started Fashionably ill, I wanted to create a “large tent” for people with all kinds of chronic illnesses–visible and invisible. A home for people who live with both mental illness and 24/7 physical pain. A place for people who live with chronic fatigue. And a place for people with rare or misunderstood diseases. As someone who has seen family members battle cancer and as someone who lives with bipolar 2, polycystic ovarian syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, asthma, and psoriasis, I believe that suffering comes in different packages but empathy is universal. You have all given me so much. The comments you’ve left on this blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where you’ve shared your journey and thanked me for writing this blog mean more than you know. Indeed, on days when my body was fighting me, you helped me go on. (I really do try my best to get back to everyone but sometimes, fall short.)

Amazing Act of Compassion

Last week, I blogged about a young woman with Myasthenia Gravis who is celebrating her 17th birthday in the hospital. Lauryn’s wish was to receive birthday cards. Many of you responded to my call including a woman, Jenny, from the U.K. Even though she was going into surgery for stage 4 endometriosis in a couple days, she took the time to send flowers and balloons to Lauryn in North Carolina. Jenny embodies the spirit of compassion and empathy that I’ve seen in so many Fashionably ill readers. In short, thank you for reading and sharing this blog the past two years. God-willing, here’s to many more.

–Your Stylist, Jessica Gimeno