James and Me
To mark its 50th anniversary, the Belgian organization Ziekenzorg CM held a prose and poetry competition on chronic illness. A selection of eight short stories and ten poems was published in the book ‘De pen als bondgenoot’ (ISBN 90-441-1059-4). Each story and poem offers a personal account from individuals with chronic illnesses or those close to them, showing how a chronic condition influences life, relationships, and work. They share how they have learned to live with illness—a life in which certainties have been replaced by the unknown, by fear, pain, and helplessness. The relatable stories and poems are conveyed in a personal and direct style that is easy to read.