Fibromyalgia Truly is My Thing # 11 : I Have a Dream.

As promised, I want to share my dream with you all; those of you who have Fibromyalgia and those who do not.

My dream is a physical one. It first came to my mind and heart in 2003, when I was sitting alone in my apartment. I was having a particularly bad time with my Fibromyalgia.  At that time I shared the apartment with a good friend. She was out for the evening and I sat alone in a candle lit room and tried to figure out just what my purpose in life was.

I got out a notebook and for hours I mind-mapped and then began forming what it was that could be done for folks who really needed help and did not have it.

This was before the National Fibromyalgia Association was up and running on the net. At least they now have tons of good information to share.

Still, I see no actual facility dedicated to those who have Fibromyalgia, yet the numbers of those who have it, and have had it for years, is climbing and coming to the forefront.

I’ll not say that I actually found my purpose in life, but I did find something that I still feel is within reach for me to do to help others.

I want to build a physical building and call it the Fibromyalgia Hope Center. It will look like a big circle raised up off the ground. There will be a walking path around the entire facility, with benches along the way to rest. (When you first start walking, it is not easy and you need rest. Later on, you are encouraged to know how many benches you no longer need to sit on.)

It will have lots of greenery. The walls will project peace and calm.

I had a really neat picture I made about the center, but have it packed away in a box somewhere. So I drew another. Above is a rough sketch of what I envision the Center to be.

The Center will have what I like to call a full service program for those who have Fibromyalgia, as well as for the families. Informed families are the basis for a healthy support group.

The Library will contain literature, books, CDs and other items that are directly and remotely related to Fibromyalgia. There will be two rocking chairs, two stuffed chairs and a rug area for children to sit and read. Of course, it will also have plants and a cool atmosphere. Peaceful. You will be able to check out books or just sit and read them.  There will also be humorous books and movies.

I intend the Library to be a place that folks can create their own “support group,” meet and not have to pay a fee.

The Child Care will be exclusively for members to utilize while they are there. So no one will have to avoid the center due to an inability to find someone to care for their children while they get help.

There will be a volunteer group to help in all areas of the Center.

The Medical and Psych areas will be staffed by volunteers to begin with. Eventually we hope to be able to pay for these services. (I have researched in my area and many Chiropractors, MDs, and Psychologists are more than happy to volunteer their services on a limited basis.

The Spa and Fitness area will have an in-ground heated pool as well as a personal trainer to get folks off on the right track. Classes will be available for exercising in the water.

Massage therapy will be available.

There will be several bathrooms scattered around the facility (knowing what it is like for those with IBS).

There are two small money making areas. The Snack Shop and the Party room. The money made from these areas will go into a scholarship fund to help those who cannot afford the membership price.

Membership fees will provide maintenance and upkeep of the facility.

Lectures will be open to the public and free. All lectures will in some way relate to Fibromyalgia.

The same room (The Lecture Room) will be nice enough to book parties, for a fee. This money will also go into the scholarship fund.

I don’t have it all worked out yet, but I really believe I will see this come to fruition in my life time. I would love to be a part of it, but if someone would be able to take it and run with it… that’s great. The whole idea is to help other Fibromyalgia folks.

I am confident that once this is up and running we will see these Hope Centers popping up all over the country,.

Well, there is my desire, my hope, my dream. I have now shared it.

Thanks for stopping by.