Finding Joy

Sydney (she/her) describes living with a chronic health condition and her personal experience living with chronic pain and chronic illness. After a recommended lower jaw reconstruction led to a rare complication, Sydney developed constant, unexplained pain that led to over 15 surgeries, serious medical complications, and the loss of active hobbies. Despite the emotional toll and daily regret over the initial operation, she copes by holding onto her core identity through everyday routines like dressing up, staying positive, and refusing to let her chronic illness define her.