Spotlight: Two PWCs Use CFIDS as a Creative Catalyst

By Angenette Rice-Figueroa,
Publications Director for the CFIDS Association

Rivka Solomon, PWC

Bedridden by CFIDS symptoms and barely able to sit in front of a computer, Rivka Solomon mustered all the energy she could to begin a journey that would take nearly five years to complete.

The result of this Herculean task, That Takes Ovaries! Bold Females and Their Brazen Acts, is a collection of 64 true stories of daring and courage written by women and edited by Solomon. Since its 2002 publication, the book has spawned worldwide open-mike nights for women and girls to share their own personal stories of triumph and has been adapted into the play, That Takes Ovaries!

Stricken with CFIDS 14 years ago, Solomon was forced to put her career in international relations on hold. Although ill and disappointed, she turned to another passion—women’s and girl’s rights. Solomon put out the call for women and girls to share with her their tales of bold and gutsy acts of courage. What began as an e-mail to a few friends eventually garnered more than 300 responses.      

“Every woman has a courageous or ‘ovarian’ moment in her,” says Solomon. “The book and play are not just a collection of stories. They are also an account of how I collected these stories over four years and my ovarian act of doing so with chronic fatigue syndrome.”

Further proving that someone who couldn’t even get out of bed most days can be courageous and powerful, Solomon sought additional ways to celebrate women’s strength. So, beyond the book, play and open-mike nights, That Takes Ovaries! has sparked such a movement that she has created and executive directs a nonprofit organization by the same name that is dedicated to the empowerment of women and girls.

Solomon talks about ovaries the way some men speak of a particular part of their anatomy as a source of bravery. “I knew the phrase would make a great book title, and it has struck a responsive chord with women,” says Solomon. “The phrase is not only playful, it’s also political because it contradicts the myth equating stereotypical power and fearlessness with only the male gender.”

Recognizing from firsthand experience that many PWCs face debilitating symptoms, Solomon hopes that more will follow her lead and acknowledge their own chutzpah. “CFIDS doesn’t kill you, but it really limits your life,” says Solomon. “That’s why even the smallest PWC act is one that takes guts and courage.”

For more information on Solomon and her projects, visit www.ThatTakesOvaries.org.

Shannon Flammer, PWC

In 2001, after months of being treated for flu-like symptoms that wouldn’t go away and then being told her illness was “all in her head,” Shannon Flammer was diagnosed with CFIDS and a candida infection. Unprepared to let the diagnosis rob her of her life, Flammer set out on a spiritual and emotional road to self-discovery and wellness.

“I worked hard to find out why I had become so ill,” Flammer says. “Along the way, I found that I was highly sensitive and allergic to most foods and environmental substances—and allergies play a far bigger role in this illness than most people are aware.”

Flammer held out little hope that doctors who had been unable to accurately diagnose her condition would now find a way to help her through this devastating illness, so she turned to alternative health care. She began by undergoing a seven-step process that included immediately changing her diet, taking vitamin and herbal supplements and detoxifying her body, home and car. She also became immersed in learning about her condition through research and application.

In order to share with other PWCs the results of her care and findings, Flammer has written a book, Conquering Chronic Fatigue: Taking Back Your Life, extensively explaining her alternative health care treatment plan. Flammer’s book, which is available only on the Internet, has charts, bullet points, “to do” lists and allergy-conscious recipes designed to help PWCs through the discomfort of the illness.

“After reviewing the books and materials available about these two illnesses, I became passionate about writing a book about the techniques that helped me,” says Flammer. “I wrote this book from the perspective of what I wanted from the day I found out I had these illnesses. All I wanted was a simple and easy-to-read plan.”

Kelly Kruzick, a PWC from Santa Monica, California , has tried every idea in Flammer’s book, which she says comes from the right perspective and offers many good ideas for managing the symptoms of CFIDS.

“I read many of the books out there about CFIDS, but they left me with a negative reaction because they were so strict and overwhelming that I couldn’t do anything,” said Kruzick. “ Shannon ’s book is empowering and her guidance works. It is written simply and succinctly, and it tells you what to do and what to eat and encourages spiritual healing as well.”

According to both Kruzick and Flammer, alternative therapies helped them greatly when traditional medicine could not. Flammer does concede, however, that unlike most PWCs, she was fortunate enough to have the more than $15,000 it took to pay for the alternative therapies not covered by her insurance. With this in mind, Flammer, now an alternative health care practitioner, was inspired to launch her Community Healing Day project. Begun in Hermosa Beach, California, the project has expanded to other cities in California and will soon start up in New York.

“Those living on tight budgets typically cannot afford alternative health care,” says Flammer. “Through this project, people can give alternative therapies a try without making a huge financial investment.”

At the Healing Days, PWCs are invited to try reflexology, massage, acupressure and other therapies one-on-one with up to eight specialized practitioners for a significantly reduced cost.

“I was scared and alone in this illness,” says Flammer. “As I learned more about CFIDS and alternative treatments, I became committed to sharing my experience with other PWCs. The book and Healing Days are my way of giving back.”

For more information about Flammer and her book, visit www.healchronicfatigue.com.