Kelly Hemingway

I have been a registered nurse for 22 years. I graduated from the University of Michigan with my Bachelors in nursing and from Walden University with my Masters in Nursing with Specialization in Education. As a nursing educator, I have had the honor of speaking at several state nursing conferences as well as share my fibromyalgia journey at a Licensed Practical Nursing state conference.

My nursing experience spans to include medical-surgical nursing, case management/discharge planning, and cardiac critical care. After many years of hospital nursing I became a nursing instructor, educating both in the classroom and a clinical setting, until I was struck by a life threatening allergic response. My health plummeted and I lost my career as a result of multiple health conditions including fibromyalgia.

As you can imagine, I was devastated after having to give up my full time faculty position after my health hit a brick wall in 2010. I am on disability now due to fibromyalgia and multiple other chronic illnesses. This book is written through the eyes of both a nurse and patient which give me unique insight and perspective concerning ways to help others. I want to turn my mess into my message and my test of faith into a testimony. I want my illness to serve a greater purpose, and not go in vain.

My goal is to educate, empower, and legitimize fibromyalgia as a diagnosis and help those who deal with chronic pain. My mission: to educate anyone and everyone I can. That is why I am a member of an online fibro support group as one of the leaders who helps educate and uplift all members. I have also been able to do two radio interviews, speak at Women's Christian Retreat, and perform two book signings. The word needs to get out that this is a legitimate and devastating illness, and people do NOT have to learn to live with it. Additionally, I share information regarding my journey with a functional medicine doctor, Dr. Murphree, who is helping me convert to natural supplements for treatments. After learning myself about this illness, I want to proclaim that you do not have to accept the statement "You will just have to learn to live with this."