Recovery stories have been popular in the media lately. Most prominent has been actress and comedian Miranda Hart (a past supporter of this blog), sharing her experience of living with ME and Lyme disease. Her account of her illness and recovery has been widely shared across print media, talk shows and in her new book. … More The Trouble With Recovery Stories
Maeve Boothby O’Neill was a young woman with great hope for the future and a wish, in her own words, “to advance the cause of human flourishing.” She was a gifted writer working on her first novel, and a treasured daughter and sister. It is her family’s wish that she should be remembered primarily for … More Why Maeve’s Death Must Bring Change
From the darkness of the pandemic, the world is reawakening. Previously empty streets buzz with life. Friends and families are reunited, and people once again travel the world. It’s like seeing spring burst into unimagined life after the harshest of winters. Almost two years have passed since I published Life in Lockdown: What Matters When … More What It Means to Be Clinically Vulnerable in a World of Covid
Can illness and disability be overcome through the power of positive thinking? One could be forgiven for thinking so. In newspaper and magazine articles, social media posts and television programmes, a powerful message is constantly delivered: physical impairment need not be a barrier to dreams. You can be whatever you want to be. A familiar … More The Truth (and Myths) About Positivity and Determination
Seven years ago today, my first article in The Daily Telegraph was published. It told of the suffering and death of my dear friend Emily Collingridge. Emily had been passionate about raising awareness of ME, and I couldn’t bear the thought of her death passing unnoticed by the wider world. I wrote a piece about … More Emily, My Inspiration
Welcome to my blog. The main purpose of this site is to bring together my existing work, but I also hope to add new writing from time to time. I have never blogged before and am looking forward to the freedom of writing as I wish, with full editorial control. (The downside is that any … More Words from a Hidden World
A Life Hidden 