Fuck ME (english)

This is going to sound absurd, but every time someone writes ”Fuck Cancer” I giggle. Not because of the dead serious message but because I think about how good the campaign is and how much I want to tell my own illness to go to hell. I have suspected Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, which is abbreviated ME. Hence the giggling.

Because. You can’t write Fuck ME, can you?

But yes, you actually can. And I just did. Hopefully it is provocative enough to arouse both curiosity and attention. And wouldn’t it be unfair if everyone else can ask their illnesses to go to hell but not us?

I feel this way very often. Both that I want to ask my illness to go to hell, but also that I want to demonstrate against poor care and lack of adequate research. Using my body for a physical protest. But like many of us, I can’t handle it. And even though some things can topple the internet, it can feel a bit weighty and ineffective sometimes just lying here in my room. But I do what I can.

Now I have started the Hermit’s shop where you can stop by whenever you need a statement. In my shop you will find Fuck ME stuff and various merch related to life as a chronically ill that can become part of your everyday life protest. As those you meet can see without you having to hang on the barricades and scream yourself hoarse. The range will be expanded with more motifs in the future if and when capacity is available. I will not make any money through my shop. The surplus from the sale will be donated to various projects related to research and chronic illness. How much money comes in and which projects I sponsor will be reported on the blog.

My shop is a so-called ”print on demand” shop where I am responsible for the design, you order and others do the practical work of managing the purchase of gadgets, printing, ordering, packing and delivery. The shop has been made possible through a collaboration with the association Forum Spetspatient and Sara Riggare. They have helped me get started and will handle the financial part for me, but I choose which project that receives the money.

In June I turn 50 and I hope you want to celebrate me properly by shopping in my shop. Throughout May and June, the profit from the sale will go to the association Help Holger now, which via fundraising campaigns supports people with ME with money for legal and medical help. Their ongoing campaign aims to ensure that insured Maria with ME and a traumatic brain injury can get help from a lawyer in the fight against the Social Insurance Agency. Read more about Maria here.

I think their work is SO important, because I know how disgusting it is to be affected by insurance fraud and health care violence. And I know that there are a lot of people with ME who have a hard time making ends meet. You can read more on their website about how you can apply and get their help. And of course you can support both the association and Maria without buying from my store. It is possible to both swipe and pay via bank giro.

• Swish: 123 64 77 079
• Bank giro 5776-5083

Mark the gift ”Eremiten 50” and I will let you know how much money we raised. If we collect more money than Maria needs, it will go to the next person in the ”Help Holger now” association’s fundraising campaign.

Every penny is needed!

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To Eremiten’s shop: https://eremitens-shop.myspreadshop.se

Learn more about ME here: https://mitteremitage.wordpress.com/varfor-fuck-me/