Category Archives: Commentary

The Death Threat Myth Exposed

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Jennie Spotila

Update April 7, 2021: Further comment from Dr. Vicky Whittemore added to the end of this post. Last week, an old story was recounted to a new audience. During the March 30, 2021 NIH telebriefing with the ME/CFS community, Dr. … Continue reading →

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Vaccine Melee

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Jennie Spotila

The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been uneven, to put it kindly. In my home state of Pennsylvania, it’s been a mess (that’s also putting it kindly). The actual situation has a lot more in common with a Black Friday scramble … Continue reading →

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Vax Me

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Jennie Spotila

There is nothing I want more than to be vaccinated against COVID-19. I know many people in the chronic illness community, particularly people with ME and/or mast cell activation syndrome, are apprehensive about the COVID-19 vaccines. I feel the opposite: … Continue reading →

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Darkness and Light

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Jennie Spotila

Today is the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. It’s a time of darkness in a hard winter, but also a time of light as the sun begins to return. Perhaps it is fitting that I face the … Continue reading →

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NIH Funding for ME in 2020: Falling Flat

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Jennie Spotila

NIH funding for ME/CFS research should be increasing each year. Everyone agrees that this is needed. Instead, 2020 funding has flatlined. Worse yet, we are in danger of falling off several cliffs looming ahead. Image credit: Off the Charts, AJN … Continue reading →

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David Tuller: Making Progress Together

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Jennie Spotila

For the past four years, I have supported David Tuller’s investigative journalism through his crowdfunding campaigns. I urge you to join me in supporting his current fundraiser so that he can continue his work. Five years ago this month, David … Continue reading →

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I Want To Scream

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Jennie Spotila

I feel like screaming a lot these days. I’ve been following distancing/isolation guidelines for 217 days and counting, and it’s hard. Reading the news usually leads to doomscrolling on social media. Honestly, there are so many distressing and maddening things … Continue reading →

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How Pandemic Response Measures Harm People With Disabilities

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Jennie Spotila

The coronavirus pandemic is reshaping all our lives. With more than six million confirmed infections in the United States, we are living through a seismic cultural event impacting how we work, learn, socialize, and function. For people with disabilities, like … Continue reading →

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Always Another Chance

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Jennie Spotila

Toni Bernhard has published a new book, How To Be Sick: Your Pocket Companion. Whether you have read Toni’s other books or not, I think you will find this one to be the perfect fit. This book is not a … Continue reading →

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How To Stay At Home

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Jennie Spotila

One thing I have learned during the COVID-19 pandemic is that people with chronic illness have a lot to teach healthy people. We have the skills and hard-earned experience of coping with social isolation and restrictions on what we want … Continue reading →

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