An inspiring guide to staying in control of your health care, your life, and your dreams despite having chronic illness, by a popular journalist and award-winning blogger.
Twenty-seven-year-old Laurie Edwards is one of 125 million Americans who have a chronic illness, in her case a rare genetic respiratory disease. Because of medical advances in the treatment of serious childhood diseases, 600,000 chronically ill teens enter adulthood every year who decades ago would not have survived—they and people diagnosed in adulthood face the same challenges of college, career, and starting a family as others in their twenties and thirties, but with the added circumstance of having chronic illness.
Life Disrupted is a personal and unflinching guide to living well with a chronic illness: managing your own health care without letting it take over your life, dealing with difficult doctors and frequent hospitalizations, having a productive and satisfying career that accommodates your health needs, and nurturing friendships and a loving, committed relationship regardless of recurring health problems. Laurie Edwards also addresses the particular needs of people who have more than one chronic illness or who are among the twenty-five million Americans with a rare disorder. She shares her own story and the experiences of others with chronic illness, as well as advice from life coaches, employment specialists, and health professionals.
Reading Life Disrupted is like having a best friend and mentor who truly does know what you’re going through. Laurie Edwards is a health journalist whose essays and articles have been published in the Boston Globe and on several online sites, including ChronicBabe.com. Her blog, was named one of the top ten sites for chronic pain by the Health Central Network. Edwards teaches writing at Northeastern University and lives with her husband in Boston, Massachusetts. This is her first book. Life Disrupted is a guide to staying in control of your health care, your life, and your dreams despite having chronic illness, by popular journalist and award-winning blogger Laurie Edwards. Twenty-seven-year-old Edwards is one of 125 million Americans who have a chronic illness, in her case a rare genetic respiratory disease. Because of medical advances in the treatment of serious childhood diseases, 600,000 chronically ill teens enter adulthood every year who decades ago would not have survived—they and people diagnosed in adulthood face the same challenges of college, career, and starting a family as others in their twenties and thirties, but with the added circumstance of having chronic illness.
Life Disrupted is a personal and unflinching guide to living well with a chronic illness: managing your own health care without letting it take over your life, dealing with difficult doctors and frequent hospitalizations, having a productive and satisfying career that accommodates your health needs, and nurturing friendships and a loving, committed relationship regardless of recurring health problems. Laurie Edwards also addresses the particular needs of people who have more than one chronic illness or who are among the twenty-five million Americans with a rare disorder. She shares her own story and the experiences of others with chronic illness, as well as advice from life coaches, employment specialists, and health professionals.
"Eloquent and funny. If you’ve experienced chronic illness, or if you care for someone who has, you need to read this book."—Amy Tenderich, coauthor of Know Your Numbers, Outlive Your Diabetes
“Chronic illness needn’t change your life for the worse if you let Laurie be your guide to everything from doctors to dating to why we sweat the small stuff (because sometimes that’s all we feel we can control). Laurie Edwards is a compassionate confidante, an understanding friend, and a witty chronicler of all things chronic illness, even the not-so-pretty parts. Bravo!”—Susan Milstrey Wells, author of A Delicate Balance: Living Successfully with Chronic Illness
“As a person living with a chronic illness, it is inspiring to hear such a fresh and important voice. Laurie Edwards puts adversity in its place and teaches us to not only go on living, but to create a better life. High five, sister!”—Kris Carr, author of Crazy, Sexy, Cancer
“For those young people suffering from chronic illness, Life Disrupted offers strategy, advice, and hope. For those of us lucky enough to grow up without illness, it tells us how to be respectfully helpful to friends, family, and colleagues in this situation. Superb and engaging writing.”—Paul F. Levy, president and CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston  and founder of the Running A Hospital Blog
“A wise and valuable addition to the literature on chronic illness, illuminating with verve and wit the particular struggles faced by young adults. Ms. Edwards is a delightful and seasoned guide. She knows what the issues are, how to decipher them, and how to live a rich life while shuttling between hospitals and high heels.”—Dorothy Wall, author of Encounters with the Invisible: Unseen Illness, Controversy, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
“Laurie Edwards is a generous writer who describes with grace and clarity how she has learned to live with multiple chronic conditions. This book is a gift to young people who are navigating chronic illness, school, and their new adulthood all at once.”—Jessie Gruman, author of AfterShock: What to Do When the Doctor Gives You—Or Someone You Love—a Devastating Diagnosis
“Laurie Edwards is a life-enhancing writer. If you’re a person with chronic illness, you should always keep this wonderful book handy.”—Sarah M. Whitman, M.D., psychiatrist specializing in chronic pain management
“Laurie Edwards has written a moving and meaningful description of the issues that people face when they live with unpredictable and debilitating disease. Her words reminded me of my own struggles—and her laughter helped me remember the good times, too.”—Rosalind Joffe, author of Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! and president of Chronic Illness Coach
“Both a practical and a philosophical guide for those navigating this heretofore uncharted territory.”—Lynn Royster, J.D., Ph.D., director of The Chronic Illness Initiative at The School for New Learning at DePaul University
“Life Disrupted is moving and often humorous, as Laurie Edwards informs readers about how they can navigate successfully through the medical storms, live well, and maintain fulfilling relationships.”—Douglas Whynott, author of Giant Bluefin and A Country Practice
“The time for patient empowerment has come and Laurie Edwards’ voice is leading the way. As a fellow lifelong patient, I appreciate her honesty in disclosing private patient moments which reflect the often unspoken truth of living with chronic illness.”—Tiffany Christensen, author of Sick Girl Speaks!: Lessons and Ponderings Along the Road to Acceptance
"Although illness memoirs and recovery books saturate the market, this one makes a contribution to the literature with its voice of a young woman dealing with a lifetime of chronic illness. Edwards, who is 27 and mana

An inspiring guide to staying in control of your health care, your life, and your dreams despite having chronic illness, by a popular journalist and award-winning blogger.
Twenty-seven-year-old Laurie Edwards is one of 125 million Americans who have a chronic illness, in her case a rare genetic respiratory disease. Because of medical advances in the treatment of serious childhood diseases, 600,000 chronically ill teens enter adulthood every year who decades ago would not have survived—they and people diagnosed in adulthood face the same challenges of college, career, and starting a family as others in their twenties and thirties, but with the added circumstance of having chronic illness.
Life Disrupted is a personal and unflinching guide to living well with a chronic illness: managing your own health care without letting it take over your life, dealing with difficult doctors and frequent hospitalizations, having a productive and satisfying career that accommodates your health needs, and nurturing friendships and a loving, committed relationship regardless of recurring health problems. Laurie Edwards also addresses the particular needs of people who have more than one chronic illness or who are among the twenty-five million Americans with a rare disorder. She shares her own story and the experiences of others with chronic illness, as well as advice from life coaches, employment specialists, and health professionals.
Reading Life Disrupted is like having a best friend and mentor who truly does know what you’re going through. Laurie Edwards is a health journalist whose essays and articles have been published in the Boston Globe and on several online sites, including ChronicBabe.com. Her blog, was named one of the top ten sites for chronic pain by the Health Central Network. Edwards teaches writing at Northeastern University and lives with her husband in Boston, Massachusetts. This is her first book. Life Disrupted is a guide to staying in control of your health care, your life, and your dreams despite having chronic illness, by popular journalist and award-winning blogger Laurie Edwards. Twenty-seven-year-old Edwards is one of 125 million Americans who have a chronic illness, in her case a rare genetic respiratory disease. Because of medical advances in the treatment of serious childhood diseases, 600,000 chronically ill teens enter adulthood every year who decades ago would not have survived—they and people diagnosed in adulthood face the same challenges of college, career, and starting a family as others in their twenties and thirties, but with the added circumstance of having chronic illness.
Life Disrupted is a personal and unflinching guide to living well with a chronic illness: managing your own health care without letting it take over your life, dealing with difficult doctors and frequent hospitalizations, having a productive and satisfying career that accommodates your health needs, and nurturing friendships and a loving, committed relationship regardless of recurring health problems. Laurie Edwards also addresses the particular needs of people who have more than one chronic illness or who are among the twenty-five million Americans with a rare disorder. She shares her own story and the experiences of others with chronic illness, as well as advice from life coaches, employment specialists, and health professionals.
"Eloquent and funny. If you’ve experienced chronic illness, or if you care for someone who has, you need to read this book."—Amy Tenderich, coauthor of Know Your Numbers, Outlive Your Diabetes
“Chronic illness needn’t change your life for the worse if you let Laurie be your guide to everything from doctors to dating to why we sweat the small stuff (because sometimes that’s all we feel we can control). Laurie Edwards is a compassionate confidante, an understanding friend, and a witty chronicler of all things chronic illness, even the not-so-pretty parts. Bravo!”—Susan Milstrey Wells, author of A Delicate Balance: Living Successfully with Chronic Illness
“As a person living with a chronic illness, it is inspiring to hear such a fresh and important voice. Laurie Edwards puts adversity in its place and teaches us to not only go on living, but to create a better life. High five, sister!”—Kris Carr, author of Crazy, Sexy, Cancer
“For those young people suffering from chronic illness, Life Disrupted offers strategy, advice, and hope. For those of us lucky enough to grow up without illness, it tells us how to be respectfully helpful to friends, family, and colleagues in this situation. Superb and engaging writing.”—Paul F. Levy, president and CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston  and founder of the Running A Hospital Blog
“A wise and valuable addition to the literature on chronic illness, illuminating with verve and wit the particular struggles faced by young adults. Ms. Edwards is a delightful and seasoned guide. She knows what the issues are, how to decipher them, and how to live a rich life while shuttling between hospitals and high heels.”—Dorothy Wall, author of Encounters with the Invisible: Unseen Illness, Controversy, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
“Laurie Edwards is a generous writer who describes with grace and clarity how she has learned to live with multiple chronic conditions. This book is a gift to young people who are navigating chronic illness, school, and their new adulthood all at once.”—Jessie Gruman, author of AfterShock: What to Do When the Doctor Gives You—Or Someone You Love—a Devastating Diagnosis
“Laurie Edwards is a life-enhancing writer. If you’re a person with chronic illness, you should always keep this wonderful book handy.”—Sarah M. Whitman, M.D., psychiatrist specializing in chronic pain management
“Laurie Edwards has written a moving and meaningful description of the issues that people face when they live with unpredictable and debilitating disease. Her words reminded me of my own struggles—and her laughter helped me remember the good times, too.”—Rosalind Joffe, author of Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! and president of Chronic Illness Coach
“Both a practical and a philosophical guide for those navigating this heretofore uncharted territory.”—Lynn Royster, J.D., Ph.D., director of The Chronic Illness Initiative at The School for New Learning at DePaul University
“Life Disrupted is moving and often humorous, as Laurie Edwards informs readers about how they can navigate successfully through the medical storms, live well, and maintain fulfilling relationships.”—Douglas Whynott, author of Giant Bluefin and A Country Practice
“The time for patient empowerment has come and Laurie Edwards’ voice is leading the way. As a fellow lifelong patient, I appreciate her honesty in disclosing private patient moments which reflect the often unspoken truth of living with chronic illness.”—Tiffany Christensen, author of Sick Girl Speaks!: Lessons and Ponderings Along the Road to Acceptance
"Although illness memoirs and recovery books saturate the market, this one makes a contribution to the literature with its voice of a young woman dealing with a lifetime of chronic illness. Edwards, who is 27 and mana