Monday, April 15, 2013

This Is For All My Chronic Illness Friends

Photo: For all my spoonie friends out there... This is for you.  You have all been on my mind and in my prayers so much.  I created this piece for you.  #fm #fibromyalgia #lupus #pots #hypermobilityofjoints #cfs #rheumatoidautoimmune #chronicpain #chronic #illness
(Artwork by Artist Kelly Watts 2013)
 
As you know I have gotten to know some amazing women on instagram that suffer from numerous 'invisible' illnesses...
I have come to love their strength and their beauty as women.
 
With this piece I wanted to create it as a gift for all of them, (you), to make them smile; to make them not feel so alone; to spread a little love.
 
These women (us) (we) (you) smile through our pain; suffer in silence; and endure a whole lot of pain and garbage with not knowing what is happening to their (our) (your) bodies most of the time.
 
With Lupus they get rashes on their faces in the shape of butterflies (which can't feel good)... so I thought.... hmmmm... how do I make something beautiful out of that?
 
So I drew the butterfly first.
 
When I was drawing the lady I wanted to give her a great big ol'smile to show how something yucky (like a chronic illness) doesn't have to be sad all the time... but we can concentrate on our blessings... on the people whom God has placed in our lives; the joys that surround us.
 
We may not have energy or physical strength but we can hold onto the moments that make us smile; the people who make us smile and most of all our God who will give us the strength to get through.
 
On Instagram I have met one lady who is a beautiful soul... she is battling Lupus and is also homeless.  I cannot imagine the strength it takes for her to get by each day...   This Butterfly girl is for her...
 
Another lovely lady on Instagram is living with Fibromyalgia pain 24 hours a day with zero support from her husband and is getting zero help from Doctors...  This Butterfly girl is for her...
 
A beautiful soul in Sweden is living with EDS and lives every day with bands and braces on all her joints just so they do not dislocate... This Butterfly Girl is for her...
 
Another wonderful gal is battling Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease with constant pain and fatigue and fights every single day to get through...
This Butterfly Girl is for her...
 
This Butterfly Girl is for all of you out there!  I see you!  I hear you!  I feel your pain!  You are not alone and you are not without hope.
I am praying for you!
 
Much love and many blessings Dear Friends
 
 
Kelly Watts
 
 



 

2 comments:

  1. You are an absolutely amazing friend and confident. You have given me so much love and support. So don't forget, this butterfly is for you too! It's a reminder to me of the beauty you bring to this world through your art, but also through you compassion, love, caring and supportive nature. You have given me hope, supported me, and you have talked me through some of the most painful times in my life, and given me hope when I didn't want to go on. You have saved me through your beauty and strength. I can only hope that I can be the same support for you as you have been for me. I love you, Kelly! xoxo

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    1. Thank you Jill, you bless my life with your beautiful words. We will all get through this and be a tremendous testimony of strength and courage and love. God will get us all through thisπŸ’›πŸ’œπŸ’œπŸ’œ

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