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

When Lance is away, Dr. Amy has pal's night! This is a special episode for many reasons. First, we have our first-ever guests! Please welcome the A-TEAM (different A-Team) to the NEVERTHELESS, PERSISTING podcast!

Dr. Amy's friends, Amy (different Amy!) and Alyssa pinch hit for Lance and we have quite a time. There are haiku, which we've used for connecting (with each other) and coping (with sh!t). We reflect on how we've managed to support each over the decades and across the miles. Someone digs up poetry prosed nearly two decades ago (are there laws against that?) and one of us gets roasted. Through it all, what remains is a steadfast love for one another that we'll never doubt. It is this that most gets us through the hardest of times. And I'd bet it is something akin to this that works best for Dolly, too.

WHAT WOULD DOLLY DO?

I am one of those fortunate souls who has been gifted with more than my fair share of loving people in my life who truly get me. They accept me and the wild wacky unpredictable world that is chronic illness.

I, together with two of those particular peeps, make up what we call the A-Team. Most deets are top secret but what I can share is that we are an elite team of awesomeness, love, support, and understanding. And we're really f*cking good at sh!tty haiku.

In the years since I’ve been sick, both A-Team members have sent me a variety of incredible, nay INSPIRATIONAL, gifts. Two such gifts were t-shirts honoring Saint Dolly Parton. In honor of her holiness and my A-Team pals, I present to you, a bit of haiku poo.

WHAT WOULD DOLLY DO?

What would Dolly do?

Whatever the hell she wants!

Dolly, take the wheel!

Continues at ⁠https://substack.com/@neverthelesspersisting/note/c-109421285

Themes for today include the joys of invisible illness, dealing with skeptics, the firm grounding that people who actually DO believe us provide, and thanking Republicans for the Americans with Disabilities Act (and of course giving them sh*t for everything else they do). It's like life; full of contradictions! Have a listen! And, if you like what you hear, we'd be ever so grateful if you'd share the pod with a friend and/or give us 5-star review. THANK YOU, hugs, and kisses!

DO YOU BELIEVE ME?

I’m terrified that you’re like I was. A skeptic. And why shouldn’t you be? People believe their eyes. Look at me. I look fine. No limbs missing. Nothing visibly leaking (I’ll spare you the deets on my colon, bunghole, and the havoc Long COVID can wreak on one’s innards).

You’ll only catch me in a wheelchair at the airport and if you see me there, you won’t know it. I’ll be incognito; wrapped in layers of clothing (baby, it’s cold inside), noise-canceling headphones (sounds kill), sunglasses and/or eye masks (ain’t no florescent light making its way to me), and immersed in the deepest of deep meditations (if you can’t escape physically, do so in your mind).

Continues at https://amyblackstonephd.substack.com/p/do-you-believe-me.