Chronically Singing . 5/16/25 Chronically Singing . 5/16/25

Rachel’s Story

Singing is everything to me. It is the best way I know how to share my thoughts and feelings with the world. Singing has always felt freeing and brought me joy.

Chronically Singing . 5/5/25 Chronically Singing . 5/5/25

Sierra’s Story

It may seem like you are alone and that the world is against you, but there are people just like you, who experience the pitfalls and challenges of chronic health issues, and they will embrace you.

Chronically Singing . 5/5/25 Chronically Singing . 5/5/25

Marlee’s Story

I felt like I was starting over my junior year in college, because my body had changed so rapidly over the first two years of my voice study...You’re waking up to a new body every day.

Chronically Singing . 5/5/25 Chronically Singing . 5/5/25

Siobhan’s Story

Our disabilities won’t always be the same for all of us, so individual tailored plans are best.

Chronically Singing . 5/5/25 Chronically Singing . 5/5/25

Bailey’s Story

For as long as I can remember, my parents have understood that the gorgeous lines I can create for dance were not medically normal.

Chronically Singing . 4/24/25 Chronically Singing . 4/24/25

Anza’s Story

[Singing] is my favorite form of self expression.

Chronically Singing . 4/17/25 Chronically Singing . 4/17/25

Elizabeth’s Story

After my onset, I absolutely wondered if becoming a choir teacher was something I could pursue … I knew there was no other career that I would find truly fulfilling except being a music teacher.

Chronically Singing . 4/16/25 Chronically Singing . 4/16/25

Hailey’s Story

I feel the most judgment when having to remain seated for music rehearsals, yet being able to be a dancer and then proceed to dance and sing.

Chronically Singing . 3/15/25 Chronically Singing . 3/15/25

Rebecca’s Story

(Excerpt from Stryker, 2024)

I often feel like I’m in this strange middle-ground of not really knowing where I fit, and not knowing if I’m able to claim that identity and it not hinder my jobs. I would love to talk about all of this stuff more online, but I worry that people would find it and not give me a job because of it. So, it’s that thing of wanting to claim it, wanting to speak about it, but also having to think, “Is it going to screw me over in the future?”

Chronically Singing . 3/8/25 Chronically Singing . 3/8/25

Charli’s Story

(Excerpt from Stryker, 2024)

When someone gets into a car accident or something and they have to use the wheelchair, it's not a choice. And I think that when you have to use it for a chronic illness, people see it more as a choice. I think people see it as giving up on trying to get better, and it's just really discouraging because, you know, I didn't have a life. I was house ridden and I started using a wheelchair and actually had some freedom again. …my mobility aid is my freedom, and my disability is the biggest source of creativity that’s ever come to me in my entire life.

Chronically Singing . 3/1/25 Chronically Singing . 3/1/25

Olivia’s Story

(Excerpt from Stryker, 2024)

I have noticed my vocal range has changed a lot since I got POTS. I’m not sure whether that’s just aging or whether that was a POTS symptom. But I feel like my voice range has shrunk a lot. It’s difficult to sing for extended periods of time now, just because it’s extremely taxing on oxygen supply. And obviously with POTS, the oxygen supply has to go to a million other places.

Chronically Singing . 1/8/25 Chronically Singing . 1/8/25

Patricia’s Story

(Excerpt from Stryker, 2024)

It made it very difficult to stand and sing, or sometimes sustain long phrases and keep my breath stable. My heart rate would jump all around and I would feel dizzy. The dizziness would affect my focus, which made it hard to sing something challenging or for long periods of time.

Chronically Singing . 1/1/25 Chronically Singing . 1/1/25

Melanie’s Story

(Excerpt from Stryker, 2024)

There are lots of opportunities for solos and there are a couple of songs this coming season that would have been really fun to audition for. But I don’t know when I’m gonna flare - which makes my heart palpitate, I feel air hungry, dizzy, and super tired. Having to bring a stool up with me for a solo would be a pain and draw more attention to me than I already have. Things like that have been barriers to fully participating in the group, which has been kind of a bummer. But the last thing I need is to go up there, also nervous, not feeling great, and then have a solo in front of the whole choir and not feel like I can do it the best that I could if I felt fine.

Chronically Singing . 12/30/24 Chronically Singing . 12/30/24

Theresa’s Story

(Excerpt from Stryker, 2024)

For me, singing is the only thing that makes sense. I've had a lot of things happen to me, frankly. I've been through a lot. And singing was the one thing that made me feel good about myself and made me feel confident.