My Invisible Illness Is Valid
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard, “But you don’t look sick,” or “But at least you look good,” I’d be a millionaire by now. Can you relate? Living with…
Valiant Voice — Lara Govendo
Lara Govendo resides in Vermont as a wild, adventurous lady who also happens to be a licensed clinical professional counselor. She dives deep into controversial topics by talking about her own struggles to help others feel less alone, educate about all aspects of health, and encourage others that there’s always hope. Thanks to her double-lung transplant in 2017 due to cystic fibrosis, you can now find Lara ministering about Jesus, exploring the glorious outdoors with her husband, and belly laughing with people around the planet. She can be reached on her website at www.hungry4hopeconsulting.com.
Featured Post
There are plenty of reasons why my life is rare
Several pieces of my life puzzle happen to be rare. First thing’s first: I have cystic fibrosis (CF), a rare disease that affects about 40,000 people in the United States. (The U.S.
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After My Lung Transplant, Hiking Is Like a Breath of Fresh Air
Hiking has become one of my favorite activities since my double-lung transplant four years ago. Before the transplant, hiking would have never been in my vocabulary. Having cystic fibrosis meant breathing was a struggle,…
Sometimes I Forget That I’m Still a CF Patient
I had a routine checkup with my vascular surgeon last week. As I was pulling into the parking garage, it struck me that it had been a while since I’d…
Don’t Overlook Emotional Wellness When Dealing With Chronic Illness
Paying attention to emotional wellness doesn’t come easy for some of us. It is often easy to sweep our emotions under the rug and function on autopilot until we burn out. Then we rinse…
How Others Showed Me Love on My Darkest Days
I’ve witnessed the greatest acts of love at my sickest. Whenever I reflect on how love has shone through on my darkest days, my misty eyes reveal how much someone has touched my life…
Finding Balance in Life When Managing Multiple Health Conditions
If I were to describe all of the health conditions I have, I’d need more column space. Each aspect of my health entails a unique story that requires explanation to understand the complexities. It’s challenging to balance all of…
Learning to Walk Alongside Grief
I sat with this heavy feeling for years without knowing its name. Throughout my turbulent health journey, a deep sadness would often wash over me. I didn’t understand why, as there wasn’t a precipitating…
In Difficult Moments, We Must Pay Attention to Our Feelings
I feel numb. Not excited or depressed, just numb. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why our culture fosters numbness. Companies peddle products to improve our lives and market to…
I’m Finally Falling Asleep Without Battling Anxiety
This column’s title may seem strange to some, but it’s not for those of us who’ve faced sleep disorders due to anxiety. For years I wondered if I would wake up in the morning…
The Benefits of Being Sick
Prior to my double-lung transplant three years ago, becoming deathly sick allotted me time to slow down. I shifted my perspective to what I could do during this time. I focused my energy…
As Many People Return to Normal, Some of Us Must Remain Isolated
“Wow, look at the COVID-19 stats in the U.S.! Our numbers are awesome! With so many people getting vaccinated, we can finally start going back to normal.” — Seemingly everyone but me It…
How I Discovered That PTSD Was Causing My Post-transplant Struggles
My whole life changed after I had a double-lung transplant three years ago. When drastic life changes occur, they can shake us to the core. We can struggle to understand the implications of what…
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