Member Voices
A look at life with chronic illness — the realities, the insights, the creativity, and the little glimmers that make a difference. Written by our members, in their own words and in their own way. If you would like to contribute to Members’ Voices, please contact [email protected].
Thoughts – By Marika
Recently I’ve been trying to work on improving my outlook on life and general mood. Given how much our mood can affect our stress levels and therefore our health, I thought I’d go over one of the strategies I’ve been trying: Right vs Wrong, and Helpful vs Unhelpful...
Honoring Members Voices
CCI Support have been such an important part of my healing journey. I have had ME and fibromyalgia since 1997, and functional neurological disorder since 2007. And when I came across CCIS, I didn’t feel so alone. They helped me get a disability parking permit,...
The Quiet Work of Recovery
By Phil Over the last few months, through Mindful Steps to Wellbeing, men’s groups, and my own practices, one thing has helped me deeply: Listening. Listening to people tell the truth about where they are. Some are still very limited. Some are living inside very small...
Honouring Member Voices
The morning of my appointment was always going to be stressful, my nerves were high and we live an hour out of town, so it was a reassuring sight to see the pink and orange streaks of the sunrise across the sea as my husband drove me to the 7.30am appointment. On...
“I Learned to Appreciate the Small Things” – A Poem by Frances Hellendoorn
I learned to appreciate the small things. I resisted it. My heart crashed against it, like waves smashing against a rock - and it hurts, unfathomable, wave upon wave. I still dreamt the big things - Momentous things actually. I picked up a small stone. It...
Highlighting Stories
At CCI Support, we recognising the importance of sharing your story—in your own words. We always endeavour to provide a platform for those living with chronic illness who would like to tell us more about their experiences. If you would like your writing to be posted...
“This Was Never Your Fault” – A Poem by Phil
They said it was all in your head.Maybe they said it with a smirk,a shrug,a cold wave of certaintythat hollowed you out,left you smaller than before. They didn’t see the nights you shook.The mornings your body refused.The terror of not being believed—not even by your...
“Before I Got Sick” – A Poem by Frances Hellendoorn
Before I got sick, I did not realise we had birds in our garden. I did not know that the myna has a hilarious bob in his song. That my ‘happy place’ bird from my childhood is a barbary dove and likes to ‘hang out’ on the power lines and gutter opposite our house in...
“Invisible Dragons” – A Poem by Frances Hellendoorn
Everyday I fight Invisible Dragons. My disability fences me in. But to all but a few the fences are invisible. I sat on the store furniture because I could not walk all the way around the store. No customer courtesy chair was provided. I am not old, although I...
“The Rongoā of Presence” – A Poem by Phil
There is a quiet strength in being with what is. Not to fix or rush, but to simply acknowledge. This presence is a kind of rongoā (medicine) — soft, patient, and deeply human. 🌙 May you find comfort in your capacity to sit with truth, and return to yourself...
