Chronic Bits 

In a recent edition of our e-newsletter, Goodie Bag, Editrix Jenni wrote about charitable organizations worthy of your generous donations. (E-mail us if you want a copy.) Over at Universal Health blog, another writer brings us some great ideas for gift-giving - the kind that helps build communities, not just a pile of presents under the tree.

Grand Rounds is fresh at Nurse Ratched's Place, and features a post from ChronicBabe.com. This week's theme: It's Christmas Grand Rounds, Charlie Brown! This edition is artfully compiled, featuring tons of great stories. Yummy reading! For newbies: check out the Grand Rounds archives.

Change of Shift has a new host today at Protect the Airway, and as usual, it offers some great nursing-related health writing. Check it out!

...from Rebecca Rengo-Kocher, an expert on living with chronic pain who offers coaching and other resources for folks in the same boat. Her newsletter offers helpful tips on thriving in spite of pain, and she's got a great pain resources page.

As opposed to "but you're too young to be sick!" or "I know it's nothing like what you're going through, but I have this awful itchy nose today" or "I feel sorry for you" or "are you sure it's not all in your head?" Here are 50 helpful things to say to a ChronicBabe or ChronicDude, courtesy of Rest Ministries.

Jenni the Editrix was featured on today's "Women Aloud" radio show, broadcast on the GreenStone Media network. You can tune in tomorrow to stream the re-broadcast over the internet by going here and clicking on the Women Aloud link. (Jenni was interviewed as part of their "Citizen Jane" segment, and it aired around 4:20pm central time.) Cheers!

Once again, Grand Rounds (hosted this week by the Anxiety, Addiction and Depression Treatments blog) does not disappoint, chock full of excellent health-related writing. And this week, we're featured! Check it out - and if you have time, browse the Grand Rounds archives.

The Editrix's dad pointed her to this excellent video. We wish we could get our colonoscopies from Lou Rawls!

We love Change of Shift, hosted this week by Fat Doctor. This awesome nurse's blog was created by Kim of Emergiblog fame, who's winning awards for her medical and health blogging. So check out Change of Shift - you won't be disappointed!

Talk about a powerful story. Writer Catherine Royce spoke to NPR yesterday as part of their "This I Believe" series about the impact ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) has had on her life. She says she chooses not to see her disease as a death sentence, but rather as a chance to learn more about herself - her strengths and abilities. WOW - this is a must-read essay for all Babes. Here at ChronicBabe HQ, we've always dug "This I Believe," and we're extra-excited they've asked a real Babe to speak out about her experience. Thanks NPR, and thanks for the tip, Babe Jo-Elle!

Grand Rounds is fresh at The Antidote: Counterspin for Health Care and Health News. Another excellent collection of the weekly best of the medical blogosphere! For newbies: check out the Grand Rounds archives.

Filmmakers Stephen Eyer and Daneen Akers sold their house in San Diego two years ago and used the funds to make "Living With Fibromyalgia," a documentary about Daneen's mom Darlene and other people who live with the condition. Read more about their story or visit their site to learn more about the film.