ABOUT

About the Author

S. G. Willoughby faces Lyme disease, MCS, and toxic mold poisoning, and is the founder of the Diamonds Conference for Christians with chronic illnesses. Sara is an adventurer at heart, whether that means trying to cook an exotic new food, venturing into Narnia, Hobbiton, or some other fictional world, living in 5 states and 3 countries, wading through mud at the beach, or hiking up a mountain when health allows. Her days start with Jesus and end with Bengal Spice tea with her husband.

My Story

At fourteen-years-old I got sick and was passed from doctor to doctor.

At fifteen-years-old, I was given a month to live.

When I first got sick, the doctors couldn’t diagnose me. Then they thought I was making it up. Even when blood tests showed severe sickness they didn’t know how to help my body—and family and friends had to start grappling with my new limitations. When my peers were going to homecoming, I was grieving a family, career, and life I thought I could never have.

I felt so alone.

But I wasn’t. 129 million Americans struggle with chronic diseases (CDC) And they battle so many of the same loneliness, questions, and burdens I do. You might be one of them.

Desperate for guidance, I searched for books or websites by other chronic illness warriors who understood. When I came up empty, I started writing my own pieces from the trenches. I wrote out of my pain, asking God “why?” over and over again.  Why me? Why now? Why would You allow this?

One by one and then all at once, the messages came pouring in as readers shared their stories—stories they hadn’t told anyone before. Every message had the same thread: “I thought I was the only one.” The only one not able to attend college. The only bedridden mom. The only employee silently functioning through excruciating pain.

One woman who has three kids with disabilities and is a full time wheelchair user herself emailed me, “I strongly believe that those with disabilities are one of the most overlooked people groups by the church.” 

I agree.

That’s why I started an online conference for Christians with chronic illnesses that includes a growing online community. The Diamonds Conference is live multiple times a year with new speakers and content, and getting to walk together with others trying to love Jesus in the midst of suffering is so sweet.

About the Blog

Sara started the first version of this blog in September 2016. Here you’ll find encouragement from a fellow teenager trying to navigate faith in God in the midst of long-term sickness. On this website, we’ll have practical tips for living with a chronic illness, discussions about faith in the midst of it, and the occasional post about writing. You can expect:

• Practical faith advice personalized to the chronic illness experience
• Compassion from someone who is living through it too
• Hope and reality simultaneously
• To be understood and seen

You are not alone.