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…
Book Review: The Watchmakers
The last four weeks I have been choosing to bring books to read instead of a device to scroll while receiving my Rituximab infusion. This week, I chose to bring The Watch Makers by Harry Lenga and Scott Lengo. This is a story told by Harry Lenga who escaped Poland and...
Book Review: Sunburst
Susan May Warren’s new book “Sunburst” was a great book to get lost in while being in the hospital getting tests done and waiting hours for the results. I read the first book of the series “Sunrise” and I look forward to the other books in the series when they...
Book Review: We Are Not Like Them
I read an entire novel while going through my 9 hour infusion. I read We Are Not LIke Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza. This is a powerful and insightful book dealing with race relations between whites and blacks. I am not going to spoil the story. It...
Goals for June
I sat through my third infusion. I sat in a small room with a big TV on the wall, in a recliner chair while Rituximab pumped into my veins. I was there for 9 hours. I made a choice to bring books and notebooks with me instead of my laptop and Kindle. I just had...
Book Review: Will
While receiving my Rituximab infusion for my GPA (Wegener’s) I read Will by Will Smith. I grew up watching Fresh Prince of Bell Aire and I remember when his song came out too. I was in middle school. I have always respected Smith and Jada. This book gave me a...
Empties for May
Here are all the things I used this month. I tried a couple of new protein products to get more protein into my eating plan. I have been dealing with low and high blood sugar issues because of the Prednisone, so I have been finding creative ways to keep them up....
Reflection on May’s Goals
May went by fast, but it was also a complicated month for me. A lot went on in my life this month. First, I was supposed to have lung surgery on the 12th. It did not happen. The doctors could not get their stuff together. I am still waiting for the new date for a lung...
Book Review: All That Fills Us
While sitting for my Rituximab infusion I read “All That Fills Us” by Autumn Lytle. This is a great story, it reads like one of those memoirs like “Wild”, but a God center version. What attracted me to this book was that this story was centered around Mount Rainer,...
Book Review: Uniquely You
I enjoy Joyce Meyer’s book so I was excited to get the chance to read one of her children’s books she wrote. This is a great book talking about our identity and who we are in Jesus. I love it. I am going to enjoy giving this to my nephew and his new born son for them...
Book Review: All the Places We Call Home
This is such a cute book. Beautiful artwork. Lovely story. I love this story of a mother telling the story of a little girl and who she is through other people in her family and where they came from. The art of stories is one of the greatest things that...