• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Kate the (Almost) Great

Chronic illness blog

  • Home
  • Start Here
    • About
    • Tags & Topics
    • Popular Posts
  • Blogging Resources
  • Shop
  • Work with Me
    • Ads and Sponsoring
  • Follow
  • Holiday
    • Gift Guide

in Health, Uncategorized · February 19, 2014

Chronic Pain and God

Although I don’t talk about it much on here, I am a practicing Catholic. My religion has played an important part in my life, and more than just the obvious parts. If you’re new around these here, you may also be unaware that I’m a chronic pain patient who deals with arthritis and fibromyalgia. I talk about my invisible illness and arthritis on a regular basis, because it’s an important part of my life. What I don’t always talk about, though, are the many different ways I live with it instead of living as it. I’m not sure if that makes sense – I’m talking about it not being all of my life as long as it is a part of my life.

My friend Kenzie is a high school student who also deals with autoimmune arthritis. God also plays a large role in her life, although she’s not Catholic like me. A few months ago I sent her a story about my religious experiences with my health, and I wanted to share them publicly so that others who are trying to keep believing in God and His works while dealing with a bad situation – health, family, school, relationships, life in general – can see them and hopefully be inspired to some degree.

The story starts almost 5 years ago, when I was a high school senior and was in my 7th year of pain already. Let me take you back to January 2009 …

With 2 ankle surgeries under my belt, I also had 2 years of doctors not believing my pain, not knowing what was causing my pain, and, in general, a lot of misery. I finally found an orthopedic surgeon who believed me. We knew that my first surgery hadn’t worked – when my dad saw him in December 2013 and caught him up, he said that with RA the surgery didn’t stand a chance – but we didn’t know what else caused my pain. We scheduled surgery to fuse my ankle but to also do a scope, which is when they put a camera inside and take a look around. Long story short, we had no idea what was wrong and were absolutely positively desperate.

At the time, I was teaching religious education once a week to third graders. I was always involved in my church (like I mentioned, I’m Catholic). Our priest wrote me a recommendation for the Catholic colleges I applied to and the woman who ran the church was the mother of one of my best friends. The night before my surgery was one of the nights I taught, and after all our students had left the priest offered to perform the Anointing of the Sick on me, one of the Catholic sacraments.

When he performed the rite, I felt an immense sense of peace and calm and hope settle over me, for the first time in years. I can’t properly describe it. In short, I felt God.

When I had my surgery the next day, they found: tarsal coalition (original ankle condition), destroyed cartilage, and arthritis. They also fused my ankle. This surgery was the most important surgery I have ever had. It pointed me in the direction I needed to go (rheumatology) and gave the proof that I wasn’t crazy and imagining the pain like so many insinuated. This gave me the confidence to stand up for myself to other doctors in the future.

Not only did the Anointing of the Sick give me peace, it gave me answers. I fully believe the surgery would not have gone as well without it.

Fast forward 2 years … I had been diagnosed with arthritis and was in that deep pit of despair again because nothing was helping and the pain was getting worse and the arthritis spreading to more joints.

I decided to go on Catholic retreat, and one of the many activities there that we all participated in was Adoration. Adoration is when you sit with the Blessed Sacrament and pray for an extended period of time. I was having such a hard time and as I sat in the room with Jesus and thought and prayed I kept getting upset. Why me? Why was this happening? How could a loving and just God do this to me?

I started sobbing, completely and totally breaking down – thankfully I was not the only person in the room doing this; Adoration can be a very emotional experience – and as I started to come out of it, I felt it. That same combination of peace and calm and hope. The same exact feeling I experienced during the Anointing of the Sick. I felt God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

I haven’t felt that way since. I have only felt it those two times. But I know without a doubt that this is God’s plan for me. He is here, guiding me, leading me through everything. Yes, He gave me tribulations. But He was there when nothing else was. He was there, I felt his presence, when I had these two deeply emotional, religious experiences.

That’s the only way I can explain it. He was there.

Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. But I know for certain that God is with me and this is His plan. I don’t believe it. I know it.

Like I said, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. But please don’t leave comments challenging my experiences. If this happens, I will turn comments off.

Share this with your family and friends:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • Tumblr

Related

Previous Post: « Oh Just A Little Miscommunication
Next Post: Words of Wisdom »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Helene says

    February 19, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    What an amazing story!! I am so glad to hear this, I am a catholic too but really anything that helps you through something hard or painful is a good thing.

    Reply
  2. Neisha says

    February 19, 2014 at 4:21 pm

    My faith is very important to me as well. It's so awesome to have God's peace in hard times.

    Reply
  3. Cassie Lee @ Sage the Blog says

    September 10, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    AMEN. I love stories like this and you are so brave for sharing it here!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Kate the (Almost) Great | Boston Lifestyle Blog - Pain and Cold Weather: Dealing with Chronic Pain this Winter says:
    October 7, 2017 at 6:44 pm

    […] Preparing for Chronic Pain Medical Appointments + Free Printable To Help, 10 Tips To Manage Your Chronic Pain This Summer, Chronic Pain and God […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

I’m Kate, a millennial living in New England. I’m a writer and an advocate for people with chronic illnesses. Join me on my journey to greatness!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

Health
Lifestyle
Writing & Blogging

Pages To Start With

  • About Me
  • Blogging Resources
  • Follow
  • Popular Posts
  • Privacy Policy & Disclaimer Policy
  • Shop
  • Start Here
  • Tags & Topics

Search

Subscribe

Join my mailing list. Subscribe today!

Privacy Policy & Disclaimer Policy

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.




There's a new blog post up today all about MEDIA K There's a new blog post up today all about MEDIA KITS! They are essential if you are a blogger or influencer who wants to make money from your work. Click the link in my bio to read or ➡ katethealmostgreat.com. ⁣
⁣
PS - My ebook for chronic health bloggers includes a Canva media kit template! That's just 1 of 11 resources in it, and the ebook is just $10. You can also find that at the link in my bio. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits at a desk working on a silver laptop. She's a brunette white woman and is wearing a pink tank dress and large brown glasses. In front of the camera, next to the laptop, is a blue-and-white coffee mug.]
💉 day! Grateful grateful grateful ◼️ [Im 💉 day! Grateful grateful grateful

◼️ 

[Image: Kate takes a selfie. She is a brunette white woman wearing a peach top, a mask, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She is sitting in a convention center holding a card that says “Thanks! For getting vaccinated.]
✨ VISIBLE SIGNS OF MY "INVISIBLE" DISABILITY ✨ ✨ VISIBLE SIGNS OF MY "INVISIBLE" DISABILITY ✨ ⁣
⁣
1️⃣ TENS unit clipped on my jeans to help my foot and ankle pain ⁣
2️⃣ Wearing sneakers because a) they're the only shoes I can really tolerate b) I have an indoors and an outdoors pair c) I have to wear sneakers/can't go barefoot for long because of my foot and ankle pain ⁣
3️⃣ Leaning on my closet door slightly because it's the only way I can really stay still for pictures ⁣
4️⃣ Wearing glasses because I can't wear contacts due to dry eyes, which is a side effect of many of my medications ⁣
5️⃣ Popsocket on my phone because I really can't keep a grasp on it due to my super arthritic hands ⁣
⁣
These are just some visible signs! Just because you don't see these things doesn't mean they aren't there if you look. Invisible disabilities aren't truly invisible. ⁣
⁣
➡ What are visible signs of your invisible disability? ⬅ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate stands in front of a mirror on the inside of her closet door, taking a selfie in the mirror., She's a brunette white woman wearing jeans, a blue-and-white top, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She has a TENS unit clipped to her jeans.]
Harley and Piper's new album, coming this fall 😂 ⁣
⁣
Comment below with what you think their album would be named if this was the album cover ⬇ ⁣
⁣
📸 @happydogsboston ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: 2 dogs but from the perspective of down on the ground looking up at them. The dogs are on a brick pathway in Boston and behind them are classic Boston brownstones, trees without leaves, and a cloudy sky. One dog is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel, and her ears are flying back in the wind. The other is a golden retriever.]
Even once you're done with school, you should neve Even once you're done with school, you should never stop learning. That doesn't mean that you have to take classes! Learning can look however you want. ⁣
⁣
You can take up a new hobby. ⁣
⁣
You can learn a new skill. ⁣
⁣
You can learn about the world by getting your news from different sources. ⁣
⁣
There are so many ways to learn, and one of the great things about not being in school anymore is that you can learn about whatever you want and whatever interests you. ⁣
⁣
What is something you've learned or learned about? ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair, facing the camera. She's a brunette white woman wearing black pants, a white sweater, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She's holding an open book. Behind her on the walls are a couple of round mirrors.]
I've been missing rural Maine these days. While I I've been missing rural Maine these days. While I like being able to see people out and about in Boston, spending most of 2020 in rural Maine really reinforced how much my soul prefers country to the city. ⁣
⁣
I don't know what to do about that short-term, but it is helpful to know that my long-term goal of moving back to Maine (or at least not living long-term in the city) is in fact something that I will love. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Looking at a lake that has a rock-filled "beach" with rocks going out to a point. The other side of the lake is filled with trees.]
Put on a full face of makeup for a small Easter ce Put on a full face of makeup for a small Easter celebration today. This is your reminder that while it's nice to dress up and look nice, celebrating in small ways is just as good as celebrating in big ones. Also, Jesus doesn't want you to risk your health or the health of others to celebrate. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate takes a selfie. She's a brunette white woman wearing a v-neck ribbed shirt, claddagh necklace, and round tortoiseshell glasses.] ⁣
⁣
#bostonbloggers #bostonian #bostonblogger #proptoit #myunicornlife #makemoments #acolorstory #makeyousmilestyle #liveunscripted #howyouglow #mybeautifulmess #choosejoy #influencehercollective #howiseeit #inspiredwomen #documentyourdays #momentsofmine #myeverydaymagic #darlingdaily #todayslovely #seekmoments #momentslikethese #posttheordinary #thatauthenticfeeling #discoverunder5k #BossGirlBloggers #ChronicIllnessBlogger #bostonma
Like I said on Monday, this has been a busy week. Like I said on Monday, this has been a busy week. But I made it through the week! And you almost have, too. ⁣
⁣
Earlier this week, I published a new blog post with tips for new health bloggers. There are 12 in total! And then today I published a new blog post that is an FAQ for POTS. I'm answering questions that I've gotten a lot in my personal life as well as in my advocate life!⁣
⁣
Check these posts out by clicking the link in my bio or ➡ katethealmostgreat.com. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair working on a silver laptop. She's a brunette white woman wearing a gray t-shirt, a lighter gray cardigan, and round tortoiseshell glasses. The t-shirt is mostly covered, but the text on it is CureArthritis.org.]
Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're tak Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're taking care of yourself. If you're not, they're not mad, they're disappointed. ⁣
⁣
In all seriousness, if you're struggling right now, that's okay. We're a year into the pandemic life, and it is 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 some days. Piper and Harley want to give you hugs, but they know that they can't jump through Instagram to make that happen. But know that they want to! ⁣
⁣
📸 @happydogsboston⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: 2 dogs sit on a brick pathway. The one in front is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel. The one in the bag is a golden retriever.]
Follow on Instagram



Footer

Kate the (Almost) Great

Chronic health lifestyle blog

Lets Go!
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
There's a new blog post up today all about MEDIA K There's a new blog post up today all about MEDIA KITS! They are essential if you are a blogger or influencer who wants to make money from your work. Click the link in my bio to read or ➡ katethealmostgreat.com. ⁣
⁣
PS - My ebook for chronic health bloggers includes a Canva media kit template! That's just 1 of 11 resources in it, and the ebook is just $10. You can also find that at the link in my bio. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits at a desk working on a silver laptop. She's a brunette white woman and is wearing a pink tank dress and large brown glasses. In front of the camera, next to the laptop, is a blue-and-white coffee mug.]
💉 day! Grateful grateful grateful ◼️ [Im 💉 day! Grateful grateful grateful

◼️ 

[Image: Kate takes a selfie. She is a brunette white woman wearing a peach top, a mask, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She is sitting in a convention center holding a card that says “Thanks! For getting vaccinated.]
✨ VISIBLE SIGNS OF MY "INVISIBLE" DISABILITY ✨ ✨ VISIBLE SIGNS OF MY "INVISIBLE" DISABILITY ✨ ⁣
⁣
1️⃣ TENS unit clipped on my jeans to help my foot and ankle pain ⁣
2️⃣ Wearing sneakers because a) they're the only shoes I can really tolerate b) I have an indoors and an outdoors pair c) I have to wear sneakers/can't go barefoot for long because of my foot and ankle pain ⁣
3️⃣ Leaning on my closet door slightly because it's the only way I can really stay still for pictures ⁣
4️⃣ Wearing glasses because I can't wear contacts due to dry eyes, which is a side effect of many of my medications ⁣
5️⃣ Popsocket on my phone because I really can't keep a grasp on it due to my super arthritic hands ⁣
⁣
These are just some visible signs! Just because you don't see these things doesn't mean they aren't there if you look. Invisible disabilities aren't truly invisible. ⁣
⁣
➡ What are visible signs of your invisible disability? ⬅ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate stands in front of a mirror on the inside of her closet door, taking a selfie in the mirror., She's a brunette white woman wearing jeans, a blue-and-white top, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She has a TENS unit clipped to her jeans.]
Harley and Piper's new album, coming this fall 😂 ⁣
⁣
Comment below with what you think their album would be named if this was the album cover ⬇ ⁣
⁣
📸 @happydogsboston ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: 2 dogs but from the perspective of down on the ground looking up at them. The dogs are on a brick pathway in Boston and behind them are classic Boston brownstones, trees without leaves, and a cloudy sky. One dog is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel, and her ears are flying back in the wind. The other is a golden retriever.]
Even once you're done with school, you should neve Even once you're done with school, you should never stop learning. That doesn't mean that you have to take classes! Learning can look however you want. ⁣
⁣
You can take up a new hobby. ⁣
⁣
You can learn a new skill. ⁣
⁣
You can learn about the world by getting your news from different sources. ⁣
⁣
There are so many ways to learn, and one of the great things about not being in school anymore is that you can learn about whatever you want and whatever interests you. ⁣
⁣
What is something you've learned or learned about? ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair, facing the camera. She's a brunette white woman wearing black pants, a white sweater, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She's holding an open book. Behind her on the walls are a couple of round mirrors.]
I've been missing rural Maine these days. While I I've been missing rural Maine these days. While I like being able to see people out and about in Boston, spending most of 2020 in rural Maine really reinforced how much my soul prefers country to the city. ⁣
⁣
I don't know what to do about that short-term, but it is helpful to know that my long-term goal of moving back to Maine (or at least not living long-term in the city) is in fact something that I will love. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Looking at a lake that has a rock-filled "beach" with rocks going out to a point. The other side of the lake is filled with trees.]
Put on a full face of makeup for a small Easter ce Put on a full face of makeup for a small Easter celebration today. This is your reminder that while it's nice to dress up and look nice, celebrating in small ways is just as good as celebrating in big ones. Also, Jesus doesn't want you to risk your health or the health of others to celebrate. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate takes a selfie. She's a brunette white woman wearing a v-neck ribbed shirt, claddagh necklace, and round tortoiseshell glasses.] ⁣
⁣
#bostonbloggers #bostonian #bostonblogger #proptoit #myunicornlife #makemoments #acolorstory #makeyousmilestyle #liveunscripted #howyouglow #mybeautifulmess #choosejoy #influencehercollective #howiseeit #inspiredwomen #documentyourdays #momentsofmine #myeverydaymagic #darlingdaily #todayslovely #seekmoments #momentslikethese #posttheordinary #thatauthenticfeeling #discoverunder5k #BossGirlBloggers #ChronicIllnessBlogger #bostonma
Like I said on Monday, this has been a busy week. Like I said on Monday, this has been a busy week. But I made it through the week! And you almost have, too. ⁣
⁣
Earlier this week, I published a new blog post with tips for new health bloggers. There are 12 in total! And then today I published a new blog post that is an FAQ for POTS. I'm answering questions that I've gotten a lot in my personal life as well as in my advocate life!⁣
⁣
Check these posts out by clicking the link in my bio or ➡ katethealmostgreat.com. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair working on a silver laptop. She's a brunette white woman wearing a gray t-shirt, a lighter gray cardigan, and round tortoiseshell glasses. The t-shirt is mostly covered, but the text on it is CureArthritis.org.]
Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're tak Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're taking care of yourself. If you're not, they're not mad, they're disappointed. ⁣
⁣
In all seriousness, if you're struggling right now, that's okay. We're a year into the pandemic life, and it is 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 some days. Piper and Harley want to give you hugs, but they know that they can't jump through Instagram to make that happen. But know that they want to! ⁣
⁣
📸 @happydogsboston⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: 2 dogs sit on a brick pathway. The one in front is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel. The one in the bag is a golden retriever.]
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Kate the (Almost) Great · Design by Studio Mommy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.