Queen's student sheds a light on hidden chronic illness
Posted Feb 4, 2010 By Kristen Coughlar
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EMC Lifestyle - Do you have or know someone with an InvisAbility?
Kristen Coughlar, Frontenac EMC
Queen's University student Julie Harmgardt, 19, is the founder of the university's newest club, InvisAbilites. The club provides a forum for people living with an InvisAbility, a chronic physical illness that is not obvious to the outside world such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes, heart conditions and fibromyalgia, people with friends or family who suffer from an InvisAbility, or students enrolled in programs pertaining to the field of medicine.
It's a question 19-year-old Queen's University student Julie Harmgardt is asking her peers.
"I don't want to say I've been sick all my life, but I've kind of been sick on and off since childhood," Harmgardt said.
In 2008 she was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, a congenital misalignment of the hip joint, and in the fall of 2009 she learned she suffers from an autoimmune disorder.
While she appears completely healthy on the outside, Harmgardt's conditions cause her great pain and discomfort.
"I've always said that I'm visibly fine, but physical sick," she said.
Frustrated by her conditions and the lack of awareness in the community about what she describes as "hidden illnesses," she set out to make a change.
"I thought, 'there has to be other people like this.'"
That thought has led to the formation of Queen's University's newest club, InvisAbilities.
What is an InvisAbility? Harmgardt explains it is any chronic physical illness that is not obvious to the outside world. This can include anything from asthma, arthritis and migraines to things like Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia and lupus.
"Anything physical that affects you in a way that can't be seen," Harmgardt said.
Harmgardt said one of the main focuses of the club is public education.
"The main thing is awareness. It is the most important thing to overcome these stereotypes," she said.
Harmgardt said that in general people don't expect young adults to suffer from a chronic illness. Furthermore, she noted that for people to acknowledge you're sick, they expect you to look sick. She hopes to debunk these stereotypes with InvisAbilities.
In addition to public education, the club is meant to be a forum for those living with an InvisAbility, Harmgardt said.
"I hope the club has a sense of community, of finding people who understand what you're going through, all the social and emotional aspects, not just the physical," she said.
Club activities will include guest speakers, a lending library, discussion group, buddy program and awareness campaign.
Harmgardt noted that the club is not just for those living with a chronic physical illness, but also friends of those with an InvisAbility who want to learn more or students enrolled in programs pertaining to the field of medicine.
Since launching in January the club already has 15 members. Approximately 60 per cent of members suffer from a chronic illness.
Harmgardt said that in the future she hopes to create a nation-wide database that will allow people from universities across the country to connect to others with InvisAbilities. She also hopes to set up chapter InvisAbilities clubs in other institutions.
For more information on InvisAbilities or to become a member contact Harmgardt at Julie.harmgardt@queensu.ca
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