You know that thing in our outro where we say we drop a new episode every Friday, Long COVID willing? Well this week, Long COVID just isn't willing so instead we have a new-ISH episode for you! There's a very important message at the beginning wherein Dr. Amy introduces Maine bill LD1688 - the thing keeping us from dropping said brand spankin' new episode this week AND a bill that we hope will soon become law! Why? Because it would require Maine's medical licensing organizations to encourage providers to seek out Continuing Medical Education focused on Infection-Associated Chronic Conditions like Long COVID (and many others). Check out info on the bill at the links below.

Also this week, a higher quality version of one of our earliest - and currently least listened to (we suspect due to earlier poor audio quality) - episodes! Please listen. It's one of Amy's favorites because she wants everyone who cares about anyone with a chronic illness to hear it. There's always so much we want to share and do and say and so little capacity to do it. Here, she tries to explain.

This is also a very special episode because Dr. Amy's work with her students is and will always be one of the greatest joys and privileges of her life. As the current semester comes to an end, she's feeling especially gushy - and grateful - about that part of her journey. If you are or have been a student or mentee of mine - I love you. I thank you.

Dr. Amy reads "I Love You. I'm Sorry." from her Substack then she and Lance discuss how chronic illness can make you feel like you're letting everybody in your life down, maintaining relationships when you're too sick to move, and making peace with it all.

I LOVE YOU. I'M SORRY.

If I could implant an electronic ticker tape across my forehead, these are the words I’d string across that broad expanse. I should also add them to my email and text headers and footers. And perhaps to a billboard outside my house. You see, as a chronic illness-having person, I’ve learned that time with my peeps is so very precious. I wish I could express to each and every one of you just how much I love you and how very sorry I am that I haven’t been and can’t be more present.

Continues at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amyblackstonephd.substack.com/p/i-love-you-im-sorry⁠⁠⁠.

ABOUT MAINE BILL LD1688: An Act to Encourage Continuing Education Relating to Certain Infection-associated Chronic Conditions for Physicians and Nurses

⁠Text of the bill⁠

⁠Hearing information⁠

⁠Info on how/when/where to testify⁠

⁠Patient-Led Research Collaborative statement of support