My understanding of chronic illness has been shaped by my cousin, who lives with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Watching them go from an active, social person to someone who has to carefully plan energy around basic daily tasks has been difficult to witness. Simple things like attending school, spending time with friends, or even getting through a full day can be unpredictable and exhausting for them.
Seeing this has changed how I view health, as it's not always visible, and it is not always within a person’s control. It has also made me more patient, more observant, and more aware of how often chronic illnesses are misunderstood or dismissed. My cousin’s experience has shown me how isolating it can be to live with a condition that many people do not fully recognize.
I advocate because I have seen how easily people with invisible illnesses like ME/CFS can be overlooked or misunderstood. My cousin’s experience made it clear to me that awareness directly affects how patients are treated, supported, and believed.
I want to help change the narrative around chronic illness so that people feel seen earlier, diagnosed sooner, and supported more consistently. Advocacy, to me, means turning empathy into action by educating others, challenging misconceptions, and making space for voices that are often ignored.