Meet Erica—a passionate advocate and member of the chronic illness and disability community. Through years of navigating invisible illnesses, medical trauma, and daily challenges, she’s learned just how strong and resilient she truly is. Erica shares what her journey has taught her, the hidden struggles many don’t see, and how she shows up for others along the way. Her story is a reminder of the power in vulnerability, advocacy, and connection.
Continue reading to learn more about Erica's story.
Finding Strength Through My Chronic Illness Journey
My disability and chronic illnesses have taught me that I’m stronger than I believe and can endure almost anything thrown my way. And, that there is power in the struggles and that strength comes from the enduring and has made me a stronger person as a result of the combination of all I’ve gone through and have been faced with thus far.
The Invisible Challenges People Don’t See
One of the hardest parts of my chronic conditions/disabilities that people often don’t see is that a lot of them are considered “invisible” illnesses. They don’t see how hard it is to wake up in the morning, how long it takes to take my medicine through my feeding tube and set up my feeds, the heartache and news I receive at doctor’s appointments, the depletion of energy from just completing one task. And how many spoons it takes me to get through the day. They also don’t see the painful flares I endure during the wee hours of the night or early mornings or all the medical traumas I have to go through just to advocate for what I need. Or all of the doctors I’ve had to sift through to find the very best care team—which I’m very lucky and grateful to now have.
How I Advocate for Accessibility
I often write reviews on places I’ve traveled to and visited that have been inaccessible and to public figures and explain how I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user and how either accessible or inaccessible the place I went to was. Most I find are inaccessible to us disabled and it’s sad that this world is not built for us oftentimes. One day I’d love to live in a world built for the chronically ill and disabled.
Small Ways to Show Up for the Disability Community
One small way someone could show up for the disability community today is advocating for our rights and standing up to people who don’t, especially people in power politically. For example, with the major healthcare bill that was just passed—calling their state/local representatives and senators could be more helpful than people think in accomplishing things. Also—a small act that I believe goes a long way is listening to us without trying to fix! Most times, people want to fix or cure our conditions and take them away instead of actually being there for us in the capacity that we need.
A Moment I Felt Proud and Empowered
One moment that made me feel powerful and proud (both) in my journey was when another chronically ill folk DM’d my Instagram account and told me how she was able to find a doctor and obtain a diagnosis from me pointing her in the direction that she’s been searching for all of these years of being undiagnosed and I couldn’t have been more elated or happier because this is what it’s all about—helping one another in our chronically ill/disabled community. This is why I do what I do and advocate so hard!
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