writing through chronic illness
I’m sitting in the waiting room at my nephrologist’s office and staring at the large bulletin board beside the reception desk. The board contains pictures and descriptions of various kidney …
Up, Up and Away by Judith Morrison Read More
As warmer weather takes over here in Virginia, I feel a flutter in my chest and a tickle up my spine as the anticipation builds within me. Though many of …
Get Your Daily Dose of Nature: Reading ‘The Wild Remedy’ by Emma Mitchell Read More
Happy New Year! The first day of a new year feels like a good time to announce the rebirth of Chronically Lit. My name is Jay, and I’m the CL …
Letter from the Editor Read More
Ben Benjamin (Paul Rudd) sits for his first interview as a newly-minted caregiver and exchanges a few niceties with Elsa, the mother of his patient-to-be. Before they have a chance …
Teaching Everyone, Disabled or Not, How to Overcome Their Fears: Fundamentals of Caring Review by Hawken Miller Read More
Humans love to believe that it’s going to get better. Her lungs had been the first thing to go. She couldn’t venture up a flight of stairs without a five-minute …
Caves by Brittani Miller Read More
Look both ways before crossing the street, always chew before you swallow, don’t talk to strangers. These are the first basic lessons I learned from my parents. As I grew …
I Don’t Know by Lindsey Schaffer Read More
During dinner recently, my ten-year-old son Ryan told me his fifth-grade class was learning about communicable diseases. It was a hard word to say, and he struggled to pronounce it …
Questions without Answers by Wendy Kennar Read More
Artist’s Statement: My work comes from my lived experience with bipolar disorder, psychiatric hospitalization, migraines, and PTSD. Poetry and art have been important therapeutic tools throughout my healing journey. I …
Photography by Danielle Hark Read More
Artistic statement: “Judy Suite” is a sequence of graphic requiems recounting my mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. Chris Gavaler is an associate professor of English at W&L University, where he serves …
Judy Suite (Six Visual Poems) by Chris Gavaler Read More
Putting Out What You Might Put Away A crib and changing table are quietlydismantled but all the socks are paired confetti,and the hats and the layettes grown dustyin the drawers, …
Putting Out What You Might Put Away Read More