“My soaring spirit trapped inside a torture chamber that is my body.”
~ Amanda Francey, 28/08/2020
Over the last seven years I have felt my life become smaller and smaller — with each new limitation peeling away part of myself — layer by layer — since life as I knew it changed forever on August 12, 2013.
I caught a virus and never recovered.
I find it difficult to articulate the magnitude of living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or ME/CFS) and how it impacts my day to day functioning. …
Life as I knew it changed forever on August 12, 2013. I remember the days leading up to it very clearly, as they were the last days I remember feeling normal and well.
I caught a virus seven years ago today
Only a week prior, my husband and I went out for dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary on the Saturday night. The next morning, we were up early with our three young children and drove to the Sunshine Coast hinterlands. …
Illustrating this artwork was a struggle for me this year. Partly due to my physical and cognitive limitations of not being able to sit upright (even in bed) and concentrate for long. The other barrier was emotional. It has taken me many weeks to illustrate, then articulate words to accompany this image, all while my inner monologue argued why I should or shouldn’t share something so raw at this time.
We’re in unusual times where we need happy distractions, not dark, depressing images. Surely this would be too negative a topic to illustrate or write about? — my inner monologue…
Amanda Francey
Illustrator of children’s books. Writer on occasion. Advocate for equality, humanity and justice. Fighting for a healthier and safer world for our children.
