Message from Jamie Holloway
For eleven years I have been learning to live well with chronic illness. It hasn’t been perfect. I haven’t always been successful at achieving my goals. It has been a chaotic, messy, learning experience that has made my life adventurous. I have learned a lot about how complicated, dangerous & even emotionally, spiritually & mentally draining living with several diagnoses is.
I am asked by my many doctors, nurses, caregivers, friends, family, strangers & store clerks how I have maintained my good attitude despite the many medical adventures, I have lived through, that might have left me feeling bitter, angry, broken & unforgiving. All I can say is, I made decisions & I followed through. One decision was to fight for me. Jesus fought for me so why shouldn’t I?
I also realized, I didn’t want my crawl through lifelong sickness, just for my own benefit. I wanted to be a wellness advocate & help those who are in the same predicament. I wanted to be one of the helpers that Mr. Roger’s speaks about. I do this by reminding myself that my attitude can help me navigate through the dark channels of chronic illness.
I am determined to say thank you to the doctors, nurses, caregivers, anyone who helps me. Showing gratitude reminds you that your life is not over just because you are sick. I say thank you & I mean it. I also decided that I didn’t want to become idle. I want to actually accomplish something, so I started writing.
I believe communicating my pain, needs, & being willing to listen as part of communication allows me to be able to be in a good relationship with my team. I have a good support system of family, friends, doctors, nurses, & caregivers who allow me to achieve many of the goals I have made. I am able to live in my home & able to keep on breathing, writing, reading & loving on my boy, Nicholas.
Since 2017 I have been an owner of Wellness Works NW. I serve as the Research Manager. I am a lead writer & my column is called Chasing Wellness.
Read Jamie’s Latest Blog Posts…
Goodbye Mom: Thank You For Choosing Me
I am writing this on October 25, 2025. It is 12:05 in the morning. I just got the message from my sister that my mom passed away and went home to be with Jesus and my dad. My emotions are irrational, and all over the place. The younger Jamie is having a fit and...
Book Review: The Sprout Book
I recently got a bunch of blood work done. I discovered that I am low in iron and my protein levels are extremely low, especially albumin. This indicates I need to eat more protein and iron rich foods and take an iron supplement. Nutrition challenges me when it...
Book Review: Here For It
“Here for It” by Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston, a book about friendship. Authentic, complicated, and beautiful friendships. I was not sure if I was going to like this book, but it had a great Queso recipe. I am glad I read it. I like how the chapters were structured...
Book Review: Devotions
When I first read Mary Oliver’s poem “Wild Geese” I fell in love with her work. I was 25 at the time and living a painful life. Her poems, balm to my soul during painful moments in my life. For my birthday, my sister/friend Summer gifted me “Devotions”. Her latest...
Book Review: The Ark and The Dove
Jill Eileen Smith's latest novel is on Noah’s Ark but done through Noah’s Wife, daughter in laws, and son's perspective. I enjoyed this novel, like I have of the others Smith has written on Bible stories done through the woman’s perspective. I can tell Smith did a lot...
Book Review: The Seamstress of Acadie
I usually love historical novels and I was excited when I first received “The Seamstress of Acadie” by Laura Frantz. I just could not get into this book. I hate speaking unkindly about a book. I am not sure if it was the story or the writing. It just didn’t...
Wellness Focus Word For 2024
Happy New Year! A new year has begun and it is time for me to pick a new focus word for this year. I chose the word Wellness! Last year at this time I was still in the hospital fighting an infection in my right leg that started from a wound I got. They still didn’t...
Focus Word 2023: Healing and Peace
Whoa! I never thought 2023 would never end. This year has been the most challenging, most life changing chapter of my life. During Christmas and New Year’s I was in the hospital fighting an infection in my right leg. Got out, then ended up going back in, in March...
Book Review: Shadows at Dusk
I enjoyed reading Shadows at Dusk by Elizabeth Goddard. For one, it is a mystery set in Alaska and Montana. Second, it had a close sibling relationship, where a brother looked for his lost sister. I will let you discover what happened to her. You will not be...
Book Review: Against the Wind
I enjoy reading books with strong women characters. Again the Wind by Amanda Cabot is one of these books. Louisa, is a doctor during a time period when women were not respected or valued or even had jobs outside of the home. The storyline is really good and it...