Better late than never seems to be our new going motto around here. Between pain and business and SS nonsense and exhaustion and so many things- we're running behind again this month!

On the plus side, part of the reason this is so late is that SarahCate has been plugging away getting new designs done, merched, and added to our own shop!

Just in time for the holidays- we've added some Spoonie Xmas designs, a Bah-Humbug design, and... a new design series for mobility device users! As cane, crutch and wheelchair users ourselves- Kristie and I both know how frustrating it is to deal with people assuming you're "cured" because you didn't need your cane one day, or to be accused of "faking it" because you've gotten up from your wheelchair to reach something on a grocery store shelf.

To that end, our new design series reminds folks that with or without our mobility equipment, we are- in fact- STILL DISABLED.

[Image description: 3 square images side by side. From left to right- 4 tank tops in Grey, Black, Navy and Hot Pink. The tank tops read "With my Cane... Still Disabled ...Without it", Next is a photo of a 3/4 sleeve navy/gray contrast shirt, a maroon long sleeve tee, and a green hoodie. They read, "On my Crutches... Still Disabled ...Off of them," the final image is of a green low scoop neck tee shirt, a gray scoop neck tee, and a red crew neck tee. They read, "In my chair... Still Disabled ...Out of it." The text in all designs rests in a swirly design setting each line apart.]

Add to that the new Holiday designs and the shop is chock-a-block with shiny new goodies!

In other news... well, there's isn't a lot of other news to be fair. SarahCate is still fighting through her appeal to keep her disability, and the other reason this update was late was because 10 hours or so got spent filling out a "functionality" report, where she basically had to explain all the things she can't do anymore. Yeah- not depressing AT ALL to see that written out in black and white. :Sigh:

But, it is November- the start of the holiday marathon. Check the shop for Spoonie-friendly Christmas designs, and a very special design for the bah-humbugs amongst us too, featuring one of SarahCate's nurse-kitties: Matt the Catt Smith.

So whether you're a celebrator or a grinch- get your holiday wish lists ready and save those links to share with friends and family looking for the perfect gift!

Or, check out one of our featured shops for November! We found some great new places to get heating pads- in honor of the western hemisphere's dip into fall and winter.

Happy November Pretties, thanks for sticking with us.

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NOVEMBER'S FEATURED SHOPS

Payne and Comfort

Hot & Cold Packs, Hand Warmers & More Ships Worldwide from US | $14+

Stress Tamer Spa

Microwave Heat Pack Heated Neck Wrap Spa Blanket (Scented & Unscented)

Ships Worldwide from US | $12+

Bucky

Comfy Pillows & Products filled with Buckwheat Hulls | Ships Within US Only | $13+

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CAMPAIGN(S) OF THE MONTH:

Normally, each month, we feature 1-3 fundraising campaigns. We like to share these links so that visitors who have the means know where need may be and can help folks in our community who are trying to get access to care or equipment they otherwise can't afford. Because there are so many folks needing help right now, we're going to start sharing a few campaigns a month- in hopes that we can help spread the love as widely as possible. If you are able, please consider donating to one of these fundraising campaign to help those who need it.

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Robin the Beautiful

This was my third hospitalization in two months. (And I still don’t have insurance or disability.) I’ve been trying to laugh off how sick I am to not worry friends, but that’s affected how serious people are about helping me or seeing me.

Honesty Time: I am not healthy and I’m never getting much healthier than I am, right now. My care is focused on extending how long I stay at this fatal stage before dropping to the next one. I am likely going to get worse… relatively quickly.

Here’s a list of things I plan to (eventually) buy for ease of living, settling in to my new home, taking care of my body/skin, staying warm since I moved from Mississippi to a place where snow happens, annnnnnnnd funsies. …if you beat me to it, that’s a little extra cash toward meds and doctors visits

Donate directly through Paypal to help me buy groceries immediately, or to contribute to my official fundraiser, click the link below:

CLICK TO OPEN THIS FUNDRAISER IN A NEW PAGE

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HELP TAPLAN GET HER SERVICE DOG!

My name is Taplan and I'm a 26 year old living in the sunny State of Florida. In September of 2007, I was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Hypermobile Type at Johns Hopkins Medicine by geneticist Dr. Howard P Levy. EDS is a connective tissue disorder that affects every part of my body. Connective tissue acts as the netting that holds the body together, the average person’s connective tissue is woven tightly, however, people with Ehlers Danlos have loosely woven connective tissue. While there are six different types of EDS, my type affects every aspect of my body but mostly my joints. I experience frequent instability even when walking. I’m prone to injuries such as dislocated joints and torn tendons and ligaments. I also experience vascular abnormalities such as extremely low blood pressure and occasional fainting, due to a common comorbidity to Ehlers Danlos called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).  

Both my doctors treating my Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, POTS, and my therapist have recommended getting a service dog, and I have finally been given the opportunity to do so. Having a dog will not only open up coping skills for mental health that I don’t have access to, but will also help me with daily tasks like carrying groceries, picking up dropped items, and getting prepared food from my kitchen on bad pain days. The dog will also be able to alert me when my BP drops, a common occurrence because of a comorbid that commonly occurs in patients with EDS, so that I'm less likely to lose consciousness.  This training comes at a cost. Not only is there an adoption fee for the dog, but I will need to make a donation to the non-profit organization that will be training the dog for the first year of its life. Having a service dog would bring me closer to the life I used to live and miss so much before this injury. Below is a financial breakdown of the costs associated with adopting and training the dog.

CLICK TO OPEN THIS FUNDRAISER IN A NEW PAGE

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SERVICE DOG FOR KRIS

Hello! My name is Kris Taylor. I'm 21, disabled, and I'm in the process of getting my next service dog.

My current service dog is Bentley, and he's amazing! However, there's a few concerns I have. 1. He's turning 5 soon 2. He's a mixed breed 3. He's a shelter dog  Because of all of these factors, I don't know how much longer he should be able to work. He's okay right now, but because of his breeds' lifespans/possible health issues/etc., and the fact I don't know his family's health history, I need to plan for my next service dog now in order to have one ready for me by the time I retire Bentley.

I found a service dog program I would like to go through. It's called Aurum Canine Services, and it's an excellent business. I'm friends with the owner/trainer on Facebook,( Dana Daniels ), I've talked to numerous former/current clients of hers, and I've seen her training process and service dogs at work. She's the one I want to get my next service dog through.

Bentley has helped me in so many ways. He helps me manage my CPTSD, severe depression/anxiety, dissociation episodes, dizzy spells, and so much more. Without him, I wouldn't be able to do anything outside the home.

Because of him, and because of the help and support he's given me, I know that I'll need a service dog after he retires so I can continue to function and live my life.

I want to get a fully trained service dog for my next dog, because while Bentley helps me immensely, I trained him on my own, and there are things I wish he could do for me that I simply didn't have the experience to train. By having someone train a dog for me, I can learn more about tasks that will help me, and I'll have even more support and help than ever before.

CLICK TO OPEN THIS FUNDRAISER IN A NEW PAGE

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If you can't contribute, please consider sharing any of our featured campaigns on your social media! Someone you know may be looking for a way to give back and could make a huge difference in someone's life! You can also look at previous blog entries to see if other featured campaigns are still in need of help!