Being Sick Well: Joyful Living Despite Chronic Illness

By Jeffrey H. Boyd

Whether it's back pain or something more serious, chronic illness doesn't have to rule your life. In Being Sick Well, Jeffrey H. Boyd addresses four main causes for chronic illness and uses case histories, personal testimonies, and a variety of resources to illustrate eloquently not just how to cope, but how to live joyfully even in sickness. From exciting accounts of wheelchair rugby games to stories of faith in spite of great pain, Being Sick Well will prove that chronic illness doesn't have to define who you are or how you live. Boyd's lively and engaging style will encourage you to reclaim your joy and your life. Book jacket.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801012686
• ISBN13: 9780801012686
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Baker Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A fellow Caregiver

I wanted to share with you about a fantastic book I just finished reading. "Being Sick Well, Joyful Living Despite Chronic Illness," is probably one of the best books I have ever read. As someone who is a care giver of a chronic illness sufferer and the Founder & President of two chronic illness support & awareness organizations, The Invisible Disabilities Advocate and Where Is God Ministries, I was moved with a wide range of emotions and challenged with new ideas and wowed by the insight of the author, Dr Jeffery Boyd. In "Being Sick Well," Dr Boyd states "When I talked with people who had chronic illness but remained upbeat, I discovered that they developed methods to help them get through the day." These methods which Dr Boyd gleaned from case histories are mentioned throughout the book and are insightfully turned into 20 strategies for joyful living despite chronic illness. The book is full of stories of sufferers and their care givers. There are even detailed statics and conclusions surrounding the continuing rise of chronic illness in America despite the notion we are getting healthier. Dr Boyd tackles these issues surrounding chronic illness with experience, intelligence and compassion. Far from being dry, I cried and cheered and laughed. The stories are moving and what they teach in regards to "Being Sick Well" are practical and inspiring. Since my organizations do not target any specific chronic illnesses or disease, I wondered how they could have an greater impact on our world. Most people are drawn to a particular organization that deals with one specific disease or chronic illness such as the Arthitis Foundation or the MS Society. Dr Boyd addresses this issue by stating the following: What is lacking is a sense of common cause among the different disease constituencies. If the families afflicted with diseases X, Y, and Z would cooperate instead of competing with one another, there would emerge an advocacy group representing a majority of the public, and suddenly the healthcare finance system would be forced to change so as to recognize and treat chronic illness. That would make life with chronic disease much more tolerable for everyone. I was not only moved by his book, but I was also encourged and energized to rise to the challenge he set forth. Since currently "At least 45% of all Americans have a chronic condition" there is a lot of work to be done and I thank Dr Boyd for leading the challenge in "Being Sick Well."

What better way than to learn from the best?

As a medical practitioner who treats patients with kidney disease, diabetes, and many other chronic illnesses, I have found Dr. Boyd's book tremendously helpful for me, my patients and their families. He creatively and lovingly engages a group of people who have found their own way to live well with their chronic illnesses, and then brilliantly distills their stories for us. Dr. Boyd gives both knowledge and inspiration that all of us, and those who we care for, can use to improve the way we live. This book reminds us that as physicians we must treat illness on many different levels besides prescriptions, tests and hospital stays. I know that many of my patients could minimize their need for medications and hospitalizations if we could find a way to follow the lead of these courageous people who shared with Dr. Boyd the wisdom they have found in adapting to some of the most difficult trials any of us can face. With this book, Dr. Boyd gives us the opportunity to learn from some of the best. Not only do I encourage patients with chronic illness who want to live well, and doctors who want to help them, to read this book, but I encourage anyone who wants to find inspiration for conducting a better life to read it.

Very moving

Dr. Jeffrey Boyd describes his own personal journey as a caregiver with compassion. This alone was very moving. But the stories of the people he interviewed who live with suffering from chronic illnesses are wonderful. Through their illnesses come the twenty strategies for living well despite chronic illness. They really put illness in perspective. Anyone who has a long-term diagnosis who is struggling to keep their illness from defining their life should read this book.

Caregivers read this book!

If you are caring for someone with a chronic illness you must read this book. It might be the kindest most compassionate thing that you can do for yourself and for them.

The new epidemic

When medical science refers to a "cure cancer" what they really mean is that it will be turned into a chronic illness. Understanding this alone explains the rise in chronic illnesses. Dr. Boyd explores the reasons for this new epidemic and its potential effect on the health care system. We are living longer but we are not necessarily healthy. The number of people living with a chronic illness is staggering. If you are involved in national health care policy or examining the future needs of an aging population you should read this book.