Blog Log: The Dragonfly Project by Mandi
By Joy Davis For The Sun January 16, 2013 6:16PM
Dr. Amanda Fessler, 33, chronicles her struggle with Behcet’s and Fibromyalgia disease in her blog The Firefly Project by Mandi. | Submitted
Updated: February 24, 2013 6:05AM
Dr. Amanda Fessler has a story of strength and perseverance. At the age of 27, Fessler was diagnosed with Behcet’s disease and, a year later, with Fibromyalgia disease. Now 33, Fessler has been living with both conditions for years. She chronicles her life on her blog The Dragonfly Project by Mandi.
Fessler earned a doctorate in clinical psychology with a focus on child and family therapy, but because of her ailments, she has been unable to work. Behcet’s disease is a rare, chronic, multisystem disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels in the body.
“It is extremely unpredictable. One minute I can feel OK, and the next I am dealing with some type of medical issue or pain,” Fessler said. “This makes it difficult to do anything such as work, go out and be social, exercise.”
Despite such an exhausting disease, Fessler is not a victim. Her blog shows a realistic and often despairing reaction to it, but also shows how someone overcomes a major setback.
“I firmly believe that we don’t have control over things that happen to us, but we can control our reactions to the events in our lives,” Fessler said. “Therefore, I can choose to be positive as much as I can and seek out others who will support me and who will encourage a positive outlook.”
Readers of her blog will learn how Fessler copes with day-to-day struggles, but also how she navigates the plethora of emotions that come with these challenges.
“I am forced to deal with numerous challenges daily, and that has taught me to find the positive side in nearly every situation This isn’t easy but it is my choice,” Fessler said. “Positive energy gains momentum and attracts positive people.”
To follow Fessler’s progress, read her blog at thedragonflyprojectbymandi.blogspot.com.
Want your blog to be featured in Naperville Sun? Email the link to freelancer Joy Davis at joydavis234@gmail.com, along with your name and why you started it.
