Q&A with blogger Hailey Hudson: “Suffering and joy really can and do coexist.”

I love that the Internet provides us with so many opportunities to connect with and be encouraged by fellow writers, and I’m excited to introduce you to Hailey Hudson, whose interests include blogging, freelancing, and fiction writing. She lives with health conditions including POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), carpal tunnel, and undiagnosed conditions causing chronic fatigue, seizures, and GI issues. (Raising awareness about POTS is of personal importance to me, as I also have a form of dysautonomia, an umbrella term for neurological conditions like POTS.)

Hailey is a full-time freelance writer and content marketer who runs the blog The Hardworking Creative. You can also find her on her personal blog, Now All I Know is Grace. I love that she shares monthly wrap-ups highlighting what she’s reading, listening to, watching, grateful for, and more

Earlier this year, Hailey spoke at the 2020 Diamonds Conference, which is an online conference for chronically ill Christians. (I didn’t get to go this year, but it’s something I learned about recently and hope to attend in the future. More info about it below!)

 I hope you’re encouraged by this conversation with Hailey on chronic illness, faith, and perseverance.

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Interview with Hailey Hudson from the Greater Atlanta area, Georgia, age 21

On advocacy, not losing heart, and living with conditions including POTS, neuropathy and carpal tunnel

Cassie: What is something you love or something God has given you a passion for?

Hailey: Writing and music are the first things that come to mind! I’ve loved both of those for as long as I can remember, whether that takes the form of writing novels, playing the piano, or dancing. And over the last year or so as my health has gotten worse, I’ve discovered I really have a heart for helping others who are chronically ill—both encouraging them through the daily journey, and focusing on advocacy and education. Finally, I also love sports and working with kids, although my health has not allowed me to participate much in either one lately.

Cassie: Please briefly share the names of your chronic illnesses along with a brief description.

Hailey: Thus far, I have been diagnosed with POTS, progressive polyneuropathy, ulnar neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, and restless leg syndrome. These conditions cause me daily nerve pain, cardiac symptoms, and other issues. We are still trying to figure out my chronic fatigue, bad GI issues, seizures, and some other random symptoms. 

Cassie: What is one of the most difficult challenges you’ve experienced due to your illnesses? How has that challenge shaped you? 

Hailey: When I was younger I went through a lot of medical trauma. I think that’s something that is very overlooked and under-discussed, but it’s very real, and going through that has made me far more compassionate to others. 

Cassie: What is something you would like people to better understand about your illnesses?

Hailey: In regards to my specific illnesses, I wish more people understood that POTS and autonomic dysfunction cause way more issues than solely cardiac symptoms, and that nerve damage paired with chronic fatigue is no joke! In regards to chronic illness in general, I wish more people understood that while chronic illness is chronic and ever-present, it is not static. I will have days, weeks, and months when I’m doing better than usual and days, weeks, and months when I’m doing worse. I learned very quickly when my health first got bad that I can’t assume how I’ll feel on any given day, and I try to communicate that to others as well.

Cassie: Tell me about a time when someone came through for you when you were going through your health struggles.

Hailey: This February I was extremely sick for the entire month; I had a fever of 103 (on my 21st birthday! Fun stuff) and it took me weeks to get over it. I was feeling very discouraged as I thought about all the ways my body had deteriorated in the past year. A couple of my friends came by and left care packages on my doormat, which was so sweet and kind. I also think of the many encouraging texts I woke up to one morning last November after being in the ER the night before (some from people that I wouldn’t have necessarily expected to hear from), and one friend who has prayed with me so many times over the years before surgery or appointments.

Cassie: What advice or encouragement would you offer to someone going through chronic illnesses?

Hailey: I think my main encouragement can be summed up in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (NIV) It’s hard for our human minds to grasp this, but our current pain is temporary—just a momentary trouble. We may feel as if our bodies are quite literally wasting away, but don’t lose heart! 

As far as more practical advice, I spoke at the Diamonds 2020 conference with tips on relationships with people who are not chronically ill. This is a topic I’m definitely still learning about, too—how to set boundaries, how to discern what to share and what not to share, etc.

Cassie: What is something God is teaching you recently?

Hailey: I’ve been learning so much about how suffering and joy really can and do coexist. You can have pain and peace at the same time. There are days when I acknowledge, this is hard and it really sucks. And there are days when I acknowledge, I have an amazing life and I am so blessed and content. And sometimes it’s the same day. Suffering and joy, at the same time.

Cassie: What is something you are most thankful for right now?

Hailey: I have been overwhelmed with gratefulness recently during this crazy time with COVID-19—it has opened my eyes to how many good things are in my life and how fortunate I am. I’d say I am most thankful for my family (including the furry four-legged members!) right now.

Cassie: Are there any resources you can recommend that encourage you through your chronic illnesses?

Hailey: Yes! I’d definitely recommend the annual Diamonds conference (full disclosure, I’m on staff for the conference and am also a speaker, but I get so much out of it as well). I also love the organizations People Hope and Our Odyssey. And finally, I highly recommend the books He’s Making Diamonds by S. G. Willoughby, This Too Shall Last by K.J. Ramsey, and any books by Esther Smith.

Cassie: I’m a bookworm and I have to ask: Read any good books lately?

Hailey: I’m a huge bookworm, too, and I always have at least one book going! Currently I’m reading If God Is Good by Randy Alcorn—so much good stuff to dig into. And on the fiction side of things, I’m reading Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon.

Cassie: What is something else you would like people to know about you?

Hailey: I live in a cute little apartment with my cute cat (five minutes away from my parents’ house and our cute dog). When I’m well enough, I love to dance, sing, and participate in local theatre! My personal blog can be found here and I dabble with making YouTube videos as well. 

[Note from Cassie: And yes, she shares photos of those cute animals on her blog!]

Thank you for sharing some of your story Hailey!

We hope you enjoyed this interview and learned something new!
We’d love to hear from you in the comments, so please let us know if you related to Hailey’s story, discovered new information, or have any questions for us!

 

Read more Invisible Illness, Visible Worth interviews here.

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Opinions and views are those of the interviewee. This blog post is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

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