The holiday season brings joy, connection, and cherished traditions, but it can also come with challenges—especially when living with a GJ mic-key button feeding tube and being 100% tube-fed by Kate Farms. For Erica, holidays like Thanksgiving and New Year's are centered around food, beverages, and desserts, which can make navigating gatherings tricky. However, the holidays are about so much more than just what's on the table. Here's how Erica has learned to embrace the season with confidence, comfort, and the support of my loved ones.
More Than Just Food: Focusing on Connection
For those of us who can't partake in traditional holiday meals, gatherings may feel isolating at first. However, I've come to realize that the true spirit of the holidays lies in the people we surround ourselves with. The friends and family who love you will support and cherish you, regardless of whether you're able to eat or even attend a gathering. It's this perspective that has helped me focus on what truly matters during this festive season: the relationships that bring joy and meaning to our lives.
Staying Comfortable and Confident with Port Access
Another part of navigating life with chronic illness during the holidays is managing my chest port for infusions and treatments. In the past, I often felt self-conscious about my port being visible, but having Care+Wear’s Chest Port Access Shirts has been a game changer.
These shirts, which I have in both teal and lavender, make accessing my port so much easier for nurses during treatments. They’re warm, comfortable, and stylish—offering both functionality and confidence. Instead of seeing my port as an inconvenience, I now view it as a vital tool that helps me live my life to the fullest.
Inspiring Others Through Accessibility
Wearing these shirts has sparked conversations with my fellow infusion buddies, showing them that living with a port isn't something to hide but something to embrace. Many have been inspired to try Care+Wear products, finding confidence in knowing that their ports are both accessible and easy to manage. It’s empowering to know that I can not only help myself but also encourage others to feel proud of their journeys.
Embracing the Holiday Spirit
While the holidays come with unique challenges for those of us with feeding tubes or ports, they’re also a time to celebrate resilience, gratitude, and the bonds we share with others. By focusing on connection over food and finding tools that support our medical needs, it’s possible to embrace the season with joy and confidence.
Whether it’s through the love of family or something as simple as a comfortable shirt, this holiday season is about celebrating what makes us feel strong and supported.
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