Know these things about chronic illness

Samaritan Ministries member Amy, who has suffered for decades from the Epstein-Barr virus, wants those who haven’t experienced chronic illness to know the following:

1. Even if the illness is hard to explain, it is real.
2. Even if you have not heard of the illness, it is legitimate.
3. Even if there is not a treatment or a cure for the illness, the ill person is most likely pursuing treatment to get better.
4. The ill person may never be healed, so try to refrain from asking, “Do you feel better now?”
5. The illness may make it difficult for the ill person to be social, but try to maintain a relationship with the ill person.
6. If you don’t know what to say to bring comfort, be open and willing to listen, even if for five minutes.