At the Bateman Horne Center, empowering patients to find their strongest voice and live their best life is the first and most important component of our mission. It is why we do all that we do. Advancing research and improving clinical care wouldn’t mean as much if we didn’t first and foremost strive to strengthen community and share the beauty of the human spirit that lives within all impacted by ME/CFS.
With the Patient Voice, we want to build a special place online for members of our community to share their stories. Our goal is to highlight the strength, joy, humor and beauty that can be found in a life changed by ME/CFS. Our goal is to lift your voice a little higher and help your story be heard loud and clear.
This is only possible thanks to our community of contributors. Together we are building a special place online where we can inspire and support one another. There’s often so much fear and misunderstanding with ME/CFS; our goal is to highlight the strength, joy and beauty in your life by featuring real stories, poems or art from people just like you. We want to de-stigmatize ME/CFS and show people facing a life after diagnosis that they are not alone. Everything you share with us brings us closer to that goal.
Topic for June/July :
“Tell us about a time when someone showed you unexpected kindness and it had a positive impact on you as you manage your chronic illness”
The personal motivation that led Dr. Bateman to open the Fatigue Consultation Clinic (FCC) and start the Organization for Fatigue & Fibromyalgia Education & Research (OFFER), drives the culture of the Bateman Horne Center (BHC) today. BHC was founded on compassion, kindness, and a deep desire to make a positive difference in the lives of those impacted by ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia.
“Dr. Lucinda Bateman is the most compassionate, caring and loving physician I have ever met and had the honor to know and work with… Knowing her first as my physician, then as my boss, has been an awesome experience. Dr. Bateman is still the same caring, compassionate and loving physician she was when I first met her more than 16 years ago. She is truly concerned about each and every patient. ME/CFS and FM is her life; helping each and every patient is her goal. Thanks Cindy for all that you have done for me. Words cannot express how much I appreciate you
?”, says Valene.
__________
In this world there is often too much ugliness, judgement and strife. In the ME/CFS and FM community, there is far too much misunderstanding, dismissive attitudes, and suffering. Yet through it all, BHC stands for compassion, kindness, integrity and commitment. And we know that we are not alone in that!
We want to focus on the stories of radical kindness and unexpected compassion. Take a moment to tell us about a time when someone treated you with unexpected care, showed a kindness you didn’t expect, or simply spread some joy in the face of your chronic illness.
Perhaps you want to write a short story, submit a poem, or send a short blog post? Or maybe you have artwork, photography or a piece of music that reminds you of this? The Patient Voice is about lifting your voice a little higher and sharing your inspiring message, so be creative.
Send your submission to PatientVoice@BatemanHorneCenter.org
Find details on making a submission HERE
Take a look at the poetry contest winners at #MEAction last month by clicking here.
