Help me make my story visible - Beads at Home

My Personal Story: Why Beads of Courage Matters to Me

I’m not just raising funds for Beads of Courage — I’m building a necklace of survival.

I live with multiple chronic and complex conditions, including POTS, MCAS, hEDS, CRPS, Hashimoto’s, celiac disease, chronic osteomyelitis,... My body is a map of pain, resilience, and endless medical battles — from nerve dysfunction to immune system chaos, from digestive failure to chronic inflammation. Some days, just existing feels like climbing a mountain.

But here’s what doesn’t show in a diagnosis list: the courage it takes to face another needle, another flare, another night of pain. The strength in getting up when every cell tells you to stay down.

When I found Beads of Courage, I finally had a way to see my journey — not as a medical chart, but as a story of bravery. Each bead marks a moment I didn’t give up. A transfusion. A surgery. A day I smiled despite the pain. A week I made it through without breaking.

These beads aren’t just beads.

Every contribution helps me honor my own courage, one bead at a time. Please help me access Beads at Home, as I am unable to receive Beads of Courage in hospital because the hospital does not offer the Beads of Courage program.

Because after years of suffering, I deserve to wear my strength.

Thank you for seeing me.
For believing my story matters.
And for helping me turn pain into pride.

With love,
Lea

Your sponsorship becomes bead credit, allowing to choose and receive their own Beads of Courage, honoring every step of their journey.