[Our Future] [Our Goals] [Stamps]

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_{After realizing that even the smallest community can pull together and do great things, *PotterShare and its determined members decided to see if they could spread love, support and awareness ALL year round. While the majority of the group are members pulled together by a silly Harry Potter club, we invite you ALL to join in and help us as we see if a tiny community can really make a difference}

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Sorry this took so long, folks, the turn out was a little more disappointing than we had anticipated, so we're going to have to recalibrate the prize system and how people are going to be rewarded.


Thank you to everyone who DID participated, and all of the wonderful people who shared their stories with us. We'll be continuing our Fibro awareness through non-rallying means for a couple more months and then we will be launching a new cause worthy of support.

Here are the submissions and names of people who really made a difference during the weeks!


Promises and Photo-Collage submissions






Artwork
- =iamsostupid
- =bewarethepossums
- ~julsenix23
- *alicat123
- *Riabhach



People who sported icons


People who posted journals
=CaitlynMario
*Riabhach
=sksyong
=joannastar
=bewarethepossums
~Myrthilla


Some Ending Stories:

My step-dad struggles with Fibromyalgia. I've known him for about eight years now, and as time has gone by, it has gotten worse for him. He works as a truck driver. Right how he halls lumber and wood chips. It is a very labourous job. He always works labourous jobs because my family needs the money. My mom sometimes brings up the idea that he may be forced into a wheelchair eventually, but he is the main supporter in the household, so it will be very hard for everyone when that happens, as well as him because he takes pride in caring for us all. Hopefully everything will work out, and if all goes well, we will be able to take care of him and not have to worry about money and food.

He has suffered from it for twenty or so years. He often talks about how easy his youth was compared to now, and reminisces about the days when he could get up in the morning without feeling sore and after having a decent sleep. He has a very difficult time sleeping these days. He says he often lays in bed at night for hours without being able to drift off, and when he does fall asleep, it is not very deep. He wakes up very easily.

Two years ago, he was working for a trucking company on call. He got very few days off and very little sleep because they kept calling him in. All the worse for his condition. He would come in the door, shamble to his bedroom and collapse half way on the bed. He would go into what seemed like a coma, and his whole body would shake violently. My mom did not get much sleep either because she was so worried about him.

These days he does not have to work as much, but there are other stresses in his life that make things worse. He watches a lot of movies because doing so gives him a focus. Video games help him, too, because he is able to zone out and distance himself from the pain a little. When he does this, I am careful not to bother him because I know it is a kind of therapy, and all he seems to have right now.

He used to take a lot of medication, but he said the drugs made things worse. At one time he was taking seven or eight different pills, and as a result he could not get out of bed. These days he relies on Advil and Nyquil. They do not take the pain away, but they seem to help a tiny bit, and any help is welcomed.

I feel inspired by him because, despite his condition, he is optimistic, caring, works hard and is a fantastic person. He is not perfect - are any of us? - but he is admirable. I am grateful for knowing him. He is my mother's third husband and the best so far. He takes excellent care of her and will do anything he can to make her happy, as well as her children, including myself.

It makes me want to get out there and work harder. I feel I take my good physical health for granted. That realization is invaluable to me.

=TerrorCookie

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my boyfriends mom has it.

Well, for one, she is a very tough lady. You wouldn't think so just by looking at her petite figure. Though, every day i see her wake up around 3-4 am, get ready for work, and leave a half an hour later. She stays at work until 3-5 pm, where she then comes home. Half the time after work, she baby-sits her 4 and 1 year old grandchildren. And let me tell you from experience, that is not an easy task, but she somehow takes it in stride. She hardly complains and she is usually in a good mood. She doesn't let it take hold of her life, except for the occasional bad day every one has.

Until i knew she had fibro, i didn't even know what it was. After i knew, i had even more respect for her. She is truly a noble and honorable woman. I do what i can to help, but most times she doesn't want or need help. I can see her saying, "I'm not a cripple, if i need help I'll ask for it." Through her, and many others, I have learned that everyone has their problems, you can't change that. It's just how you deal with those problems that matter. Keep your head up high and things will see you through.

*DevarinStar

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I have had fibromyagia or FMS for three years now. It is a terrible chronic illness to live with and my heart goes out to all the people who do have it as well. Thank you so much for posting this article and for helping to promote awareness. It's an awful thing to live with and has changed my life.

I tried to post a message on the news article but it kept giving me an internal error, so I'm sending it via note instead.

My heartfelt appreciation for doing this! So many people think we're faking it because they can't 'see' anything wrong with us, but the pain is sometimes unbearable.

=Healersmoon




Thank you, everyone for your support! We'll continue to post Fibro related stories, photos, artwork and ideas, so if you didn't see your stuff here, it will get the proper attention it deserves!

Stay tuned for more information!