In 2012, the Minnesota Department of Health estimated that 1 in 3 people of all ages have a diagnosed chronic health condition, meaning that they 1) have a health condition that can affect well-being, daily living and ability to function, and 2) the condition stays with them over a long period of time. Chronic conditions include asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, food allergies, cancer, arthritis, heart disease, depression, anxiety, immune disorders etc. These conditions may be unpredictable and can cause individuals, families and friends to adjust, juggle and adapt to maintain safety and functioning. Serious illness can be traumatic, take up a lot of time and use up resources. It may be isolating, in spite of being so common. People often don’t talk about their struggles, which can make it hard to get support or learn from others.
Gloria Dei is considering the development of an informal social support group of people living with chronic health conditions to network, learn and help one another. The proposed format for group includes a brief guided meditation, time to network, share and pray together. We may have speakers once or twice a year. If you are interested, please contact parish nurse Jill Stewart, 651-699-x 3031 or nurse@gloriadeistpaul.org by October 15 with comments or ideas.
