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Welcome to A Life Hidden – I’m so glad that you’re here. 

A Life Hidden was created in 2018 as a resource for those living with severe ME.  This remains its focus, but much of what is shared here is relevant to any long-term condition.  Many of the themes explored also relate to the universal human experience, irrespective of health.

Whatever your reason for visiting A Life Hidden, I hope that you will gain insight and find comfort in these pages.  Read more about A Life Hidden here.

Featured Content

The Power of Listening

“The experience of being listened to can transform a patient’s life. It can change a medical appointment from something potentially traumatic and damaging into a positive experience.  It is not an exaggeration to say that it can be the difference between life and death.”  Continue reading

Emily Didn’t ‘Only’ Have ME

“Emily’s life was claimed by an illness that, at its most severe, has been compared to Aids and terminal cancer, yet which is trivialised far too often.  Right to the end, Emily had to fight the belief that she “only’’ had ME.”   Continue reading

A man stands at the top of a mountain, arms outstretched. He is dressed in black, and the mountains around him appear white in the sunlight.

The Trouble With Recovery Stories

“Never feel that your struggle to exist is not enough.  If all you can do today is breathe and cling on, that is an act of courage and daring.  And one worthy of all the column inches in the world.” Continue reading

Naomi sits at the edge of the sea in a beach wheelchair (which has special large wheels for the sand). She wears sunglasses and a multi-coloured cap, and is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a blue and pink top with a flower pattern, and a pale purple cardigan. Her jeans are partially covered by a wheelchair leg cover. It is a bright, sunny day.

The Day I Touched the Sea Again After 30 Years

“Before me was the ocean in all its roaring energy. Its might and beauty were too much to contain, and tears filled my eyes.” A reflective piece on achievement, loss and joy.  Continue reading

A silhouetted woman stands at the edge of the sea. The sun is setting and the sky is a mixture of dark clouds and golden light. The sea in front of her is reflecting the sunlight.

Reclaiming the Narrative: Finding the Real Me

“Finally, after a lifetime of being lost in other people’s stories about me, I am hearing the words of truth that reside in my own heart.” Continue reading

Woman in wheelchair, seen from behind, sat at the edge of a cliff looking out to sea. A parasol shades her from the sun

Glimpsing the World: My Joy and Pain

“The reminder that there is a world of colour and light and space out there can be a boost to the soul – and also a deep sorrow. I have hope of the experience being repeated, but also the knowledge that the darkness can swallow me again at any time.” Continue reading

A close-up shot of forget-me-not flowers

Why Maeve’s Death Must Bring Change

“It is hard to express the frightening sense of vulnerability engendered by being severely ill, and yet having genuine reason to fear the very system that is supposedly there to help.” Continue reading

Latest blog post

A silhouetted image of a woman, standing in front of the sea and a sunset sky. Her arms are outstretched in front of her, as though in thanks or pleading.

On Gratitude and Grief

“There is a strong societal expectation that any hardship in life must be overcome. We speak of illness as a battle, with winners and losers; of grief as a temporary state from which we must move on.  In reality life’s greatest challenges shape us forever.”  Continue reading