Here’s a listing of just some of the websites available for those struggling with illnesses, injuries and other health-related ailments. They tell the inspirational personal stories of others who’ve faced the same problems, because it’s healing to know that you are not alone.
General:AllEducationSchools.com: Celebrities who overcame disabilities to become famous and successful
eHow.com: How to turn personal tragedy into triumph
MarshfieldClinic.org: Stories from patients of Wisconsin’s Marshfield Clinic
MayoClinic.org: True stories from hundreds of patients of the Mayo Clinic
ValleyRally.com: Stories of inspiration from real people with a variety of ailments and issues
Alzheimer’s:
About.com: Readers share their experiences with Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s Association: Stories of people with Alzheimer’s
Arthritis:
About.com: Inspirational arthritis success stories
ArthritisInsight.com: Stories of everyday people with various types of arthritis
New South Wales Young Adults With Arthritis: Stories of young adults age 18-45 with arthritis
ResourceHelp.com: Personal rheumatoid arthritis stories
Autism:
Autism Blogger: Online support group where people dealing with autism can relate their experiences
Foundation for Autism Information & Research: Videos of parents talking about their children’s battle with autism
Parents and Carers of Autism: Stories of parents of children with autism or carers of people with autism
Cancer:
American Cancer Society: Stories of hope from cancer survivors
Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network: Survival stories from bladder cancer patients
CancerGuide.org: Inspirational stories of patients with cancer
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation: Inspirational stories from breast cancer patients
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: Inspirational stories from survivors of pancreatic cancer
Time.com: Photo essays of cancer survivors involved in Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong Challenge
Cerebral Palsy:
4MyChild: Inspirational stories and support from parents of children with cerebral palsy
Medtronic.com: Personal stories of families living with cerebral palsy
Crohn’s Disease:
Crohn’s Disease Stories: Stories about living with Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s Disease and Stress: Stories from Crohn’s sufferers around the world
Suite101.com: Personal stories form people with Chrohn’s disease
Diabetes:
Daily Strength: Type 2 diabetes support group
GlucoStories: Contest for inspirational diabetes stories
Your Diabetes Network: Inspiring stories of how diabetics have coped
Eating Disorders:
About.com: Personal stories of eating disorder sufferers
Caring Online: Stories from people coping with anorexia
Daily Strength: Eating disorder support group
HealthyPlace.com: First-hand eating disorder stories
Heart Disease:
Medtronic: Personal stories of heart disease
Smart Heart Living: Heart disease stories
US News & World Report: Faces of heart disease: 3 women’s personal stories
WebMD: Stories from people dealing with heart disease
Injuries:
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust: Stories of recovery from brain injury
The Neuro Institute: Spinal cord and brain injury recovery stories
Thin Threads: True story of survival
WiNKKK.com: Videos of spinal injury rehabilitation
Kidney Disease:
Children’s Kidney Disease Support Group: Encouraging stories of children with kidney disease
Fresenius Medical Care: Stories of patients of Fresenius Medical Service’s outpatient dialysis clinics
MyKidney.com: Blog documenting a woman’s kidney disease and transplant
Lung Disease:
American Lung Association: Stories of living with lung disease
ChristmasSeals.org: 31 days of inspirational stories of lung disease
The Lung Association: Stories of living with asthma
Lyme Disease:
Lyme Disease Foundation: The faces of Lyme disease
Lyme Info: Lyme disease patient stories
Lyme Project: Lyme disease stories as part of an e-book
Mental Illness:
Alaska Mental Health Consumer Web: Stories of recovery from mental illness
Experience Project: Support group for mental illness
Internet Mental Health: Stories of recovery and personal experiences with mental illness
Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia: Stories of mental illness
WhataDifference.org: Varied stories of mental illness
World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Alllied Disorders: Stories from those touched by schizophrenia
Sexually Transmitted Disease:
28 Stories: 28 stories of AIDS in Africa
Avert.org: Personal stories of HIV/AIDS
The Body: Inspiring stories of people affected by HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS: Positive stories about HIV/AIDS
RedSkyHealing.com: Inspiring HIV positive stories
Yoshi2Me.com: Inspirational stories about herpes, HPV and sexually transmitted diseases
Stroke:
Abington Memorial Hospital: Stroke survivor stories
American Stroke Association: Personal stories of stroke survivors
Colorado Neurological Institute Stroke Center: Success stories from CNI’s Stroke Center
The Internet Stroke Center: Stroke survivor stories
Stroke and Aphasia Info: Inspirational stroke stories