·

Christmas Break

Saturday, December 2, 2023

No comments
 Photo: Christmas Cactus by Gail K. Kachnycz November 2023     Hello to all who have been reading A Map Through the Valley. I hope the posts so far have been an encouragement to you. During December I am going to take a break from regular posts. The blog will resume in January. Meanwhile, I have prepared a list of Christmas Carols for Advent that I hope will be a blessing to you...
Read More
di

Gradual Grief

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

No comments
 Photo: freeimages.com hourglass-7-1312469.jpgINTRODUCTION: 7 August 2023      The article that describes our journey over the past three decades is the context for this essay (see "Our Journey" page in the top dashboard). I definitely recall acute feelings of loss at several steps along the way: when Mike was put on disability, when palliative care was recommended, and when...
Read More
di
·

Working and Caregiving

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

No comments
Photo: klsmith77 1314832.jpg WORKING AND CAREGIVING By Gail K. Kachnycz; 1 April 2021       Chronic illness affects not only the person who is diagnosed with a medical condition, but all the members of the family in different ways. If the person experiencing progressive illness is the primary breadwinner, and needs to work fewer hours or actually apply for disability...
Read More
di
·

Finances and Chronic Illness

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

No comments
 CHRONIC ILLNESS AND FINANCES By Gail K. Kachnycz; 05 March 2021; revised 20 September 2023  “And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood staunched.” Luke 8: 43, 44 KJV       The full story...
Read More
di

Supporting the Family

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

No comments
 Photo: Gail K. Kachnycz. Triple S Casserole (Sausage, Spinach, Spud). I always send meals in containers that do not have to be returned. People have enough to deal with!INTRODUCTION      As the title suggests, this article is aimed at a wider audience than just the person with chronic illness or the caregiver. The supports listed below are just a few that come to mind. The...
Read More
di

Big Rocks for Chronic Illness

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

No comments
 Photo: Big Rocks are a familiar sight in my gardening ventures. October 2023 Gail K. KachnyczINTRODUCTION:      A friend sent me the story of the “Big Rocks” in 2001, before Mike was placed on hospice status or the idea of a blog had developed. First of all, I liked the surprise ending (I hope that piqued your interest to check the links for the article and the video!)....
Read More
di

The Four P's

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

No comments
Photo: Squash harvest September 2023; 1 Butternut, 3 Delicata. Gail K. KachnyczINTRODUCTION:      I didn’t set out to learn the four “P’s.” One evening during the period when Mike was receiving hospice services (2019 or 2020), my older son and I were having a conversation in the car. I can’t recall how the topic of life lessons came up, but my son asked, “What have you learned...
Read More
di

Prayer Pillars

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

No comments
 FOUR PILLARS OF PRAYER SUPPORT by Gail K. Kachnycz;  29 March 2021       As chronic illness progresses, especially if the loved one is placed on palliative care or hospice status, there may be a change in the prayer focus. It is time to pray according to 2 Corinthians 4:16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are...
Read More
di

Prayer Circles

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

No comments
PRAYER SUPPORTERS/PRAYER CIRCLES by Gail K. Kachnycz; 04 March 2021       A person experiencing chronic illness and their care giver will need prayer support throughout their journey, however long or short. Most people have an informal network of those they rely on for prayer. As chronic illness continues or possibly worsens, developing a more organized network of support may...
Read More
di

Crushed

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

No comments
By Gail K. Kachnycz; 27 February 2021     Crushed. This word rarely has a practical point of reference in modern society. If someone is disappointed, they may be described as crushed, but they are really more crestfallen. “Crushing it” is slang in the pop culture for an excellent performance or achieving a goal quickly and easily. Most people don’t have to physically crush anything...
Read More
Read more »
di

Laugh/Cry/Inspire

Monday, October 2, 2023

No comments
 Photo: Gail K. Kachnycz October 2023; Sunset on the Bay, Ocean City NJRecommendations will be listed s...
Read More
di

Government/Legal/Financial

Monday, October 2, 2023

No comments
Photo: Gail K. Kachnycz; Sidling Hill Plaza, PA Turnpike, October 2022RESOURCES: GOVERNMENT, MEDICARE, and MORE  New 2 October 2023 http://www.myreps.datamade.us             website to find your government officials: local, state, federal  https://www.ssa.gov      Social Security website  https://www.medicare.gov     ...
Read More
di

RESOURCES: COMMUNITY and SUPPORT

Monday, October 2, 2023

No comments
 Photo: Gail K. Kachnycz; Pop-up Shop at the Art Museum Philadelphia PA October 2023New 3 October 2023  Book When Someone You Love has a Chronic Illness- Hope and Help for Those Providing Support      By Tamara McClintock Greenberg, Psy.D.   Websites Enter the diagnosis in the search bar of your browser.      Most chronic illnesses have...
Read More
di

The Journey of Chronic Illness

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

No comments
By Gail K. Kachnycz; originally written 26 February 2021PSALM 23 King James VersionThe LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:     For thou...
Read More
Read more »
di
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)