2019 Cause Awareness Day Calendar

2019 Cause Awareness Day Calendar

*Note: All of these causes are not related to invisible diseases or health related issues, but are causes everyone should be aware of and support.

January
Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
Dry January
National Blood Donor Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
Thyroid Awareness Month

6-12 – Obesity Awareness Week
11 – National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
16 – National Religious Freedom Day
20 – World Religion Day
20-26 – Healthy Weight Week

February
American Heart Month
Black History Month
National Cancer Prevention Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

1 – National Wear Red Day (Women’s Heart Disease Awareness)
2 – World Wetlands Day
4 – World Cancer Day
3-9 – Burn Awareness Week
7 – National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
10-16 – National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week
14 – V-Day (Violence Against Women)
14 – National Condom Awareness Day
14 – National Donor Day
16 – World Whale Day
17 – Random Acts of Kindness Day
20 – World Day of Social Justice
20 – Love Your Pet Day
22 – World Thinking Day
25 – Mar 3 – National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
26 – World Spay Day
27 – World NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) Day
28 – Digital Learning Day
28 – Rare Disease Day

March
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month
National Kidney Cancer Awareness Month
National Nutrition Month
National Professional Social Work Month
National Save Your Vision Month
National Women’s History Month
Red Cross Month

3 – World Wildlife Day
8 – International Women’s Day
10 – National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
10-17 – Brain Awareness Week
10-17 – National Sleep Awareness Week
13 – K9 Veterans Day
14 – World Kidney Day
15 – National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence
15 – World Consumer Rights Day
15 – World Sleep Day
18-24 – National Youth Violence Prevention Week
18 – National Public Defense Day
19 – National Agriculture Day
20 – National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
21 – National Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
21 – World Down Syndrome Day
22 – World Water Day
24 – World Tuberculosis Day
30 – Earth Hour

April
Alcohol Awareness Month
Autism Awareness Month
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
National Counseling Awareness Month
National Humor Month
National Minority Health Awareness Month
National Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month
National Youth Sports Safety Month
Parkinson’s Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
World Habitat Awareness Month

2 – World Autism Awareness Day
2 – International Children’s Book Day
3 – National Day of Hope
7 – World Health Day
7-13 – National Volunteer Week
7-13 – National Library Week
10-16 – Parkinson’s Awareness Week
11 – World Parkinson’s Day
14 – National Dolphin Day
19-21 – Global Youth Service Days
20 – Volunteer Recognition Day
22 – Earth Day
22-28 – National Environmental Education Week
25 –Malaria Awareness Day
25 – Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day
26 – Arbor Day
30 – Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

May
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Awareness Month
Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Better Hearing and Speech Month
Clean Air Month
Foster Care Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Lupus Awareness Month
National Arthritis Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
National Brain Tumor Awareness Month
National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
National High Blood Pressure Education Month
National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
National Stroke Awareness Month
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

5-11 – Be Kind to Animals Week
5-11 – National Hospital Week
6 – National Nurses Day
6-12 – National Nurses Week
6 – Melanoma Monday
7 – National Teacher Day
8 – World Red Cross Day
10 – World Lupus Day
11 – World Fair Trade Day
12 – World Migratory Bird Day
12 – Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day
12 – Mother’s Day
12-18 – Women’s Health Week
13 – National Woman’s Checkup Day
17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
17 – Bike to Work Day
18 – International Museum Day
18 – HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
18 – Armed Forces Day
20 – National Rescue Dog Day
21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development
21 – Brain Injury Awareness Day
23 – World Chron’s and Colitis Day
27 – Memorial Day
29 – National Senior Health and Fitness Day
31- World Multiple Sclerosis Day
31 – World No Tobacco Day

June
Cataract Awareness Month
International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
National Great Outdoors Month
National LGBTQ Pride Month
National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month
National Safety Month
Men’s Health Education and Awareness Month
Professional Wellness Month

2 – National Cancer Survivors Day
5 – World Environment Day
8 – World Oceans Day
10-16 – National Men’s Health Week
14 – World Blood Donor Day
16 – Father’s Day
19 – World Sickle Cell Day
20 – World Refugee Day
27 – National HIV Testing Day
27 – PTSD Awareness Day

July
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
National HIV Awareness Month
National Parks & Recreation Month

1-7 – Clean Beaches Week
4 – Independence Day
11 – World Population Day
28 – World Hepatitis Day
29 – International Tiger Day
30 – World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
31 – National Mutt Day

August
American Indian Heritage Month
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
National Breastfeeding Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
National Water Quality Month
Psoriasis Awareness Month

1-7 – World Breastfeeding Week
1 – World Lung Cancer Day
6 – National Night Out
8 – International Cat Day
9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
12 – International Youth Day
12 – World Elephant Day
17 – World Honey Bee Day
19 – World Humanitarian Day
26 – International Dog Day

September
America on the Move – Month of Action
Biodiversity Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Fruits & Veggies – More Matters Month
Baby Safety Month
Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month
Healthy Aging Month
Leukemia Awareness Month
Lymphoma Awareness Month
National Alopecia Areata Awareness Month
National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
National Cholesterol Education Month
National Infant Mortality Awareness Month
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
World Alzheimer’s Month

5 – International Day of Charity
8 – International Literacy Day
8-14 – National Suicide Prevention Week
10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
13 – National Celiac Awareness Day
21 – World Alzheimer’s Day
21 – International Day of Peace
22 – World Rhino Day
23-27 – Malnutrition Awareness Week
25 – National Women’s Health and Fitness Day
27 – National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
28 – World Rabies Day
28 0 Family Health and Fitness Day
29 – World Heart Day

October
Cyber Security Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Energy Awareness Month
Healthy Lungs Month
Hunger Awareness Month
Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
National ADHD Awareness Month
National AIDS Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Liver Cancer Awareness Month
SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Awareness Month

4 – World Animal Day
5 – World Teachers Day
6 – World Cerebral Palsy Day
6-12 – Mental Illness Awareness Week
7 – World Habitat Day
7-13 – National Fire Prevention Week
10 – National Depression Screening Day
10 – World Mental Health Day
10 – World Homeless Day
11 – International Day of the Girl
12 – World Arthritis Day
16 – World Food Day
17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
18 – National Mammography Day
21 – Lung Health Day
21-25 – National Health Education Week
23-31 – Red Ribbon Week
29 – World Psoriasis Day
31 – Halloween

November
American Diabetes Month
Great American Smokeout Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
National Alzheimer’s Disease Month
National Epilepsy Awareness Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Hospice Month
National Native American Heritage Month

10-16 – World Kindness Week
11-15 – American Education Week
13 – World Kindness Day
14 – World Diabetes Day
15 – National Philanthropy Day
15 – America Recycles Day
19 – World Toilet Day
21 – Great American Smokeout
25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
28 – Thanksgiving

December
National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month
National Human Rights Month

1 – World AIDS Day
3 – International Day of People with Disabilities
3 – #GivingTuesday
5 – International Volunteer Day
9 – International Anti-Corruption Day
10 – International Human Rights Day
18 – International Migrants Day
22-30 – Hanukkah
25 – Christmas
31- New Year’s Eve

Did You Know? Fibro Warning Signs

Did you know?

Fibromyalgia is a growing concern for many individuals.  Like any other disease there are many doctors that either don't believe it's real, lump people with similar symptoms into this box or force a similar disease and treat as that instead of Fibro.

Fibromyalgia does have symptoms similar to Lupus and other auto immune diseases, but unlike those there is no way to test for Fibro.

Fibromyalgia warning signs:

• Pain and tenderness in muscles and joints
• Fatigue
• Fog - mental haziness

While these are the 3 initial ques that there are issues they are not the only ones.  Click here for other Fibro Symptoms and Signs

Did You know? Lupus look alikes

Did you know?

Did you know there are other illnesses out there that have similar symptoms to Lupus and a lot of the times get misdiagnosed or overlooked because of the similarities?

Here are a few that are generally crossed:

• Autoimmune thyroid disease
• Celiac disease
• Myasthenia gravis
• Antiphospholipid syndrome
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Polymyositis
• Dermatomyositis
• Scleroderma
• Sjögren’s syndrome

Some of these even overlap or exist along with Lupus.  

If you feel your symptoms are being lumped together because you've already been diagnosed with one, talk to your doctor.  If you don't feel like you they are listening get a second opinion.

Did you know?

I've decided to start a "Did you know?" series.  This will be a series of information that you may not already know about all the illnesses I'm representing and a few others. This will included not just symptoms of the diseases, but helpful sites and organizations, and other random things that might be helpful to not just those going through the fight, but those taking care of them as well.

If there is anything that you can think of that you think I don't know and is a great resource or a lesser known symptom of any invisible disease feel free to email me FAID.Faqs@gmail.com.

Walk MS - Nov 4th

Dear Friends and Family,

I recently registered to participate in Walk MS and I'm inviting you to join my team.

Fundraising drives groundbreaking research, provides life-changing services and guarantees a supportive community for those who need it most. Your participation is a powerful step in creating a world free of MS.

Please visit my personal fundraising page to join my team or make a donation. By joining my team, you will be signing up for a great event and an important cause. Each mile we walk, each dollar we raise brings us that much closer to our goal – an end to MS.

I really hope you join my team and support the MS movement.

Thank you!

JOIN ME OR DONATE

Walk MS Event

When you participate in Walk MS, you make an impact on the lives of people affected by MS. Together with your family, friends and co-workers you become a powerful force. Together, we will end MS forever.

Here is the information you will need to have a fun and memorable day while participating in Walk MS with your friends and family!

Start/Finish Location: University of Houston - Moores School of Music

3333 Cullen Blvd., #120

Houston, Texas 77004

Schedule: Sunday, November 4, 2018; site opens at 8:00 a.m.; walk begins at 9:00 a.m.

Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/z7KTzXk6bSk

Pain/Symptom Journal

Middle of 2017 I came to the conclusion that I needed to step up my game and truly keep track of my pain and any random symptoms or issued that I incurred whether it be daily or as it occurred.  So I looked for pain/symptom journals.  I found some that looked ok, I found plenty of 'worksheets' to track stuff, but nothing that was all together and nothing I felt met my needs completely.

So I found a 'worksheet' that had all the information I was requiring but again it was a loose paper and I wanted some type of note book.  One day I found a journal at target that was blank and lined with the word "date" to head all the pages.  It was perfect.  So I took pieces of the worksheet that were combined perfectly and other pieces I rearranged and put into a word document.  I printed this and pasted it to the journal.  Some portions like the little figure to show where the pain is I didn't use daily if I wasn't feeling pain.

Here are examples of my pages:

First is the 'Key' that lists Stressors, symptoms and what it means when I have a number in ( ).

Second is a picture of the book I mentioned and how the page looks will all the information pasted in. 

Walk MS Houston - Nov 5, 2017

Dear Friends and Family, I recently registered to participate in Walk MS and I'm inviting you to join my team. Fundraising drives groundbreaking research, provides life-changing services and guarantees a supportive community for those who need it most. Your participation is a powerful step in creating a world free of MS. Please visit my personal fundraising page to join my team or make a donation. By joining my team, you will be signing up for a great event and an important cause. Each mile we walk, each dollar we raise brings us that much closer to our goal – an end to MS. I really hope you join my team and support the MS movement. Thank you! Click here to visit my personal page. If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=14598663&pg=personal&fr_id=29097&et=P87H4zR4cTEdFh9HPdEc6g&s_tafId=580586 Click here to view the team page for FightingAgainstInvisibleDiseases - FAID If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?team_id=526660&pg=team&fr_id=29097&et=hGWP0GZjHWWmyqRt8hNOPA&s_tafId=580586 If you no longer wish to receive email messages sent from your friends on behalf of this organization, please click here or paste this URL into your browser: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TellFriendOpt?action=optout&toe=10c0594487e84c9ea1ce586e18486c5c0612ff6397fe351052869c15ef04f318

More MS News | Join the Community | Find an Event | Advocate for Change | In Your Area National MS Society | Legal Notice/Privacy Policy | Email Preferences | Unsubscribe National MS Society | 733 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Contact us at nationalMSsociety.org or 1-800-344-4867

2016 Put On Purple

Tomorrow is Put On Purple day for Lupus Awareness.  Please show your support, rock your purple even if it's a purple butterfly pinned to your shirt.  Show your love for those dealing with this invisible disease.


Message me your pictures:

Facebook:

F-A-I-D-Fighting-Against-Invisible-Diseases

Twitter:
@feliciaqhamata

2015 - 30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know
* The following has changed since 2015, stay tuned for updated "30 Things"

1. The illness I live with is: Anemia, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia (that I know of)

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: Anemia started 2005; Fatigue and Fibro August 2012

3. But I had symptoms since: 2010

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Sleep schedule, knowing when to stop instead of pushing past my limits

5. Most people assume: It's normal every day aches or old age pains :) or I simply overslept or being lazy

6. The hardest part about mornings are: Getting out of bed.  Sometimes my back hurts so bad I can't do anything but lay there. 

7. My favorite medical TV show is: Right now Grey's Anatomy.  It used to be House when it was on the air.  

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My scanner/adobe type writer; I have issues writing for to long so what I tend to do is scan things I need to write on and use my adobe typewriter to fill in the forms.

9. The hardest part about nights are: Getting comfortable enough to fall asleep or keeping my RLS at bay

10. Each day I take _ 7_ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please. That is including taking 1 pill twice out the day)

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Am still looking.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose:Actually I probably would prefer an invisible one.  Even with all the trouble of trying to convince someone that you do have a problem.  I would prefer that over them seeing my pain everyday and either feeling sorry for me or it hurting them too seeing my problems.  At least this way I can hide it when I need to (which also causes it's own problems :) ). 

13. Regarding working and career: Hmm, that has been my biggest struggle.  I would like to be further along than I am, but I wonder sometimes if I take on the extra work will I be able to keep up.  Or will my ailment remain at the stage it's at or worsen making it harder to keep up.

14. People would be surprised to know: Anything is wrong with me.  I rarely just let go and lay out not moving.  I try to push through, which on days I fall asleep at the drop of a dime is kinda scary.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been:Unpredictability.  I love to plan ahead, but I can't always count on my plans.  

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Running.  With the pain that I feel and the extreme pain I feel after exercising I didn't think I would be strong enough to even pretend to run, but I do.  And  I love it.  And will keep it up until my body tells me otherwise.

17. The commercials about my illness: Are vague.  I'm glad they are there because then when I say Fibromyalgia or chronic pain people are like "Oh yeah" I heard about that.  But they don't really do it justice.

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Getting up and just going.  Now getting up is an issue and some days I can't go because I can't wake up.

19. It was really hard to have to give up: Hanging out after the kids are in bed.  That's usually my me time or me and hubby time, but for the most part I usually need too (don't always do what I need) go to bed when they do to function in the mornings.

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: I haven't fully executed it, but I want to garden.  Actively as mentioned above I've taken up running.

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Take the kids somewhere like disney were we would walk around all day, ride rides, eat whatever and do it again the next day.  As it stands if I did that I wouldn't be able to walk either the next day or a few hours into that day.

22. My illness has taught me: Priorities

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: Just take some tylenol or just get up and move around you'll feel better.

24. But I love it when people: Want to know more and don't blame everything on my ailment

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Of course, God doesn't give you anything you can't handle.

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Don't think about what you can't do, remember all you can and do what you can until you can't.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How little people know about others.  When I tell people

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: My hubs took the kids out the whole day so I could be alone to sleep, surf the internet or just veg out.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: There are a lot of those who suffer in silence and I was one of them.  I'm not trying to put a sign on my back and say look at me, but look at the illnesses support those with them.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Happy that maybe you will take interest or show us chronically ill some support.

My Facebook Page: F-A-I-D-Fighting-Against-Invisible-Diseases

MS Donations: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Donate
My Personal Lupus Donation page: http://lupus.donorpages.com/Raise4Lupus/TPQ/

Candy....Candy.....Candy

In an effort to help raise funds for my March for Babies walk on Sunday, April 24th I will be selling mini candies and packets for .10 cents.   I will also be selling larger candies for .25c to support both the Walk To End Lupus on May 1st and the Walk MS in November.  

Welcome to FAID

Welcome to F.A.I.D - Fighting Against Invisible Diseases

I started FAID originally as a FaceBook page to have a central place to bring awareness to several invisible diseases that meant something to me.  At first it was just two, but grew as I realized there were misconceptions for others that were near and dear to me.  I have since also started a Pinterest Board, voice my views on Twitter and lastly started this blog.  I was using my personal blog for some things, but I felt as I'm campaigning multiple issues I need one platform the is united with the name as the others are.

I wanted to take the time to welcome you in my first post in hopes that you feel that this isn't just another ploy to exploit money or another money hungry corporation, but an individual looking to raise awareness for multiple issues that mean something to me.  And if I also raise funds for organizations I know have worked to support and create change for these illnesses than that's just icing on the cake.

Welcome