MUSIC & RADIO SAVED MY LIFE

A story of living with invisible illness

Pat Franc

I’m currently 51 years old and have been suffering from aggressive and degenerative autoimmune diseases since 1992. I was 22 years old when symptoms of inflammation first appeared overnight in my left knee. I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. My life changed overnight, although I did not know that at the time. Full Story

My goal with this site is to increase awareness and understanding of invisible diseases. For details, please see my full mission statement.

Were it not for the inspiration of MUSIC, I don't think I would be here today. Music helped me get through some of my darkest days. It has been critical to my survival. Therefore, every chapter in this BLOG will be musically themed. I hope you enjoy reading and listening.

April 23, 2023

Chapter 28: Free As a Bird in a Cage

I saw something today that really jarred me. After meeting a close friend for lunch, I decided to take a stroll and walk through the local pet shop. I must preface by saying that I condemn the practice of putting animals in cages, especially birds. My apologies in advance to anyone who has a bird in a cage, as I won't be very supportive of this inhumane practice that serves only to make the owner feel some sort of misplaced pride in keeping a creature that is meant to fly in the sky and live in the trees captive in a cage.

April 18, 2023

Chapter 27: Pop Goes My World

As I'm sure you've noticed, like Donkey in Shrek, I wear my heart out on my sleeves. The emotional impact a separation can have, especially when feelings turn around, is hard to describe. I have never felt more alone in my life than I do now. I miss my wife and my old life so much.

March 24, 2023

Chapter 26: It's a Beautiful Day - Am I a hopeless case?

Speaking of hopeless cases, I recently learned that St. Jude was the patron saint of hopeless cases. Interestingly, I attended a catholic grade school called St. Jude Elementary, and seeing how my life has turned out, I've started wondering if I am not a hopeless case. Not hopeless in an incorrigible way, but rather as it pertains to my chronic deteriorating health, which seems to have no end in sight. Several people have told me "Don't lose hope"; however, grasping at those words is not easy when you get to that hopeless place. 

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