66 POSTS
Chief Health Advisor
Dr. Phillip Waite has worked in the field of Health Promotion and Public Health for over 20 years. After active duty service in the U.S. Army, Dr. Waite received bachelor's and master's degrees at Utah State University and his Ph.D. at the University of Utah, all in the field of Health Promotion. While going to school, he worked in the corporate sector running a large work site health promotion program. He began his faculty appointment at Utah State University in 2003. Dr. Waite established a research record examining the relationship between spiritual and physical health behaviors, the impact of work site resiliency training, the outcomes of community and school-based violence and drug prevention programs, and impacts of mentoring reminiscence with senior populations and on the evaluation of health care and health promotion interventions. Phil spends his free time with his family and enjoys running, hiking and travel.
If you have a chronic illness, you know a little something about sacrifice. Because of my chronic illness, I've learned to make a lot of sacrifices. I used to love mountain biking. But I had to give it up.
Who knew I would be grateful for having a chronic illness? Actually I wish I never got sick in the first place, but given that I am, I'm glad it has changed my life in some good ways.
The story is about Lance Richardson who struggled most of his adult life with Crohn's Disease. He describes the demands that his chronic illness placed on his young family, a lot of which I can easily relate to.
Somehow it seems counter-intuitive to feel grateful for having a chronic illness. After all it can change your life in so many not-so-good ways. That is how I looked at chronic illness before I was diagnosed.
I like getting away, taking a break from the regular routines and demands of daily life. It doesn't matter if it's a vacation or business travel. The problem is that traveling can sometimes spell disaster for those of us with chronic illness.
Everyone knows exercise is important to living long and healthy life. But if you have a chronic illness exercise can be more complicated than putting on a pair of running shoes and hitting your favorite trail.
Chronic illness isn't portrayed often in movies, or at all really. I suspect there are a couple of reasons for this. Whenever a book or film portrays real challenges like chronic illness,
Among those with chronic illness there are many people that selflessly reach out, lift, inspire and heal. They are humble and empathetic, caring and understanding.
Life can get out of balance pretty quickly. When you have a chronic illness, that balance can be even more difficult to maintain. It is one more demand upon our limited time and energy.
Not much about chronic illness surprises me anymore. But there is one thing that happens that always seems to catch me off guard. Getting sick.
