I am still keeping myself busy incollege. I still have (juvenilerheumatoid arthritis] and I still taketwo million pills. There are still dayswhen I can't get out ofbed, but Iaccomplish so much in the meantime.I am playing Varsity Field Hockey, Iam the service chair for my sorority,a member of student government, aneditor ofthe literary arts journal andan honors student. On days when itfeels like I can't cope, I remind myself that there is nothing I cannot do if Iput my mind to it.
-Heather Neumann describing her experience withchronic illness
(Band-Aides
&
Blackboards, 1999)
L
ike many other young people, HeatherNeumann has learned how to live withchronic medical problems. She has chosento share her story, "Forever Heather," with otheryoung people, particularly those with chronic ill-nesses or disabilities, on
Band-Aides and Black -boards,
a website maintained by Joan Fleitas, anursing professor and pediatric clinician. Thiswebsite is only one of the many ways in whichhealth professionals and laypersons are transform-ing the Internet into a source of informationabout illness and disability, and helping thosewho seek moral and psychological support whencoping with such conditions.In this chapter, we will explore the dynamics of health, health care, and disability from a socio-logical perspective, as well as look at issuesthrough the eyes of those who
have
experienced
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if.
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9
Concern over chronic health problems is not Limited to older
aduLts. Many young peopLe must aLso Learn how to Live with
chronic illnesses or disabilities.
medical problems. Before reading on, test your
knowledge about health, illness, and health care
bytaking the quiz in Box 14.1.
What does the concept of health mean to you?Atone time, health was considered to be simplytheabsence of disease. However, the World
Health Organization (2003: 7) defines
health
as a
state of complete physical, mental, and social
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