Doctors told Terry Tucker he would likely be dead in two years. Fourteen years later, he is still here, still trusting Jesus, and still telling the truth about what it costs to keep going with terminal cancer.

We talk with Terry about living with a rare form of melanoma that started as a wound on the bottom of his foot and turned into years of surgeries, brutal treatments, and eventually amputation and wheelchair life. He walks us through the real timeline: Interferon that made him feel like he had the flu every week for years, toxic complications that landed him in intensive care, a clinical trial that kept tumors stable, and newer immunotherapy options like TIL therapy that are finally shifting the fight. If you live with chronic illness, disability, or ongoing medical trauma, you will hear your own experience echoed in the mix of fatigue, fear, grief, and bright hope.

We also go deeper than medicine. Terry shares faith as an ongoing relationship with God, including moments when the only prayer left is a single word: “God.” We talk purpose beyond productivity, why “faith, family, friends” becomes his survival order, and how turning outward to care for someone else can pull you out of the darkest spiral. He even shares the story of a young nurse who almost quit her career until his day-by-day endurance reminded her why she became a nurse in the first place.

If you need Christian encouragement for chronic illness, terminal illness, or cancer, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more listeners can find these stories.

Visit Terry's website here: https://motivationalcheck.com

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One of the strangest parts of chronic illness is how fast your life can change with no clear moment of impact. I’m L. A. Sprague, host of Christians with Chronic Illnesses, and I’m sharing my personal journey with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) from the first scary symptoms to the testing, the waiting, and the emotional toll of trying to prove what my body already knows. 

We talk through the real timeline: that day at work when I felt like I was going to pass out, the ER visit where everything looked “normal,” and the cardiology path that led to a tilt table test. I explain what the tilt table experience was like for me, what it felt like to be “borderline,” and how confusing it can be when the medical system treats your symptoms like a puzzle you have to earn the right to solve. 

Then the story takes a turn that so many of us recognize: a provider later tells me I don’t have POTS, and suddenly I’m back in that spiraling place of doubt and shame. I share what it meant to finally sit with a neurologist who actually read my notes, validated my experience, re-diagnosed me with POTS. and helped me move forward with treatment. We also get practical about POTS management and dysautonomia support: medications, compression socks, electrolytes, feet-up recovery, cooling strategies, pacing, and building a life that makes room for limits without surrendering purpose. 

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, overwhelmed, or exhausted by the fight to be taken seriously, I hope this conversation makes you feel less alone. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more chronically ill Christians can find this community.

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She went a decade without a seizure, followed the medical plan to taper off meds, and finally started to picture a more “normal” life. Then one illness in December 2020 flipped everything, leading to repeated seizures, a terrifying hospital stabilization, and a long climb back through memory loss and fear. Kaylen of Chronic Yet Undefeated joins us to tell the truth about epilepsy that most people never hear, and why she still calls God her provider and protector.

We get practical and specific about what seizures can feel like from the inside: focal impaired awareness moments that feel like a dream you cannot wake from, generalized convulsive seizures that steal consciousness, and auras that show up as nausea, pins and needles, or even phantom smells like burning rubber. Kaylen also names the heavy topics, including SUDEP anxiety, driving limits, workplace barriers, and why “you don’t look sick” can be one of the most isolating lines a person with invisible illness hears.

Just as important, we talk about healing the heart. Kaylen shares how bitterness and self-protection pushed her toward isolation, and how church community, meaningful connections, and an identity rooted in Christ helped her move forward. If you’re a Christian living with chronic illness, epilepsy, or an invisible disability, this conversation offers both real-world insight and spiritual encouragement grounded in scripture.

If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people living with chronic illness can find this community.

Listen to Kaylen's podcast: Chronic Yet Undefeated

https://www.youtube.com/@ChronicYetUndefeated

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A listener wrote us a letter so honest it almost feels like reading someone’s journal out loud, and I mean that as a compliment. We sit with the slow-motion grief of chronic illness, the way it steals “basic dignities,” and the shock of waking up to a new baseline you never chose. Along the way we talk Hashimoto’s, exhaustion, depression pathways that are easy to slip back into, and what it does to your faith when your body keeps saying no. (Heads up: there is explicit language.) 

We dig into the pressure many Christians with chronic illness carry: the fear that if we cannot serve like we used to, we are failing God. We unpack the martyrdom mindset, productivity identity, and the comparison game that shows up in disability and chronic illness communities. We also name the emotional toll of medical limbo, expensive tests, “labs look fine,” and that relentless cycle of hoping the next appointment finally brings relief. 

Then we pivot to what actually helps: treating yourself like a real person, learning balance instead of hyper responsibility, and letting prayer be honest instead of performative. I share my hot take that faith often looks like uncertainty, and that God can handle your rant sessions when praise feels impossible. We end with a surprisingly beautiful coping practice: using creative writing to make your body a teammate instead of an enemy. 

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “a good enough sick Christian,” you’ll feel seen here. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a rating and review so more chronically ill believers can find this community.

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🌱Join the Community:

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  Christians With Chronic Illnesses Support Group
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He starts with a lisp. Then he can’t swallow. Then he can’t stand. Cindy Washburn joins us to share the caregiver perspective behind her husband Miles’ sudden Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) crisis, and what it’s like to watch the person you love lose basic functions while you fight fear, push for answers, and try to stay steady in front of them.

We talk through the emotional whiplash of going from retirement plans to emergency rooms, including what happened when they were initially sent home, how fast symptoms progressed, and the moments that broke Cindy’s heart, like the feeding tube attempt and the looming risk of a ventilator. Along the way, she names something every caregiver recognizes: the worst stress is the unknown, and it can swallow your whole nervous system if you don’t find support.

We also get practical about Guillain-Barre syndrome awareness and advocacy. Cindy explains what they learned about GBS as an autoimmune condition, why tests like a spinal tap can matter, and how IVIG treatment and plasma donations can play a lifesaving role. We zoom out to the long tail of recovery too: fatigue, nerve pain, anxiety, and the fear of it coming back, plus how a spouse can respond with empathy without losing their own footing.

If you’re a Christian caregiver, a chronic illness patient, or someone trying to understand how marriage changes after a medical crisis, this conversation offers honesty, faith, and tools you can use right away. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review so more caregivers can find these stories.

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🌱Join the Community:

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  Christians With Chronic Illnesses Support Group
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Somebody told you the miracle comes after you “believe hard enough.” Somebody else hinted that anxiety means you’re outside God’s will. If you live with chronic illness, chronic pain, depression, panic attacks, or any long-term condition, that kind of teaching doesn’t just miss the point, it can bury you in shame. I’m responding to a sermon that echoes prosperity gospel ideas and walking through why I believe it’s toxic, especially for believers already carrying heavy burdens.

We open up 2 Kings 3:9–20, the story of three kings running out of water in the desert, and we pay attention to what’s actually happening in the text. The leaders are scared. They doubt. They assume God has abandoned them. And still, God provides water in a way they cannot control, predict, or manufacture. That matters because it challenges the idea that obedience or emotional certainty is the price tag for God’s care.

From there, I zoom out to Jesus: the one who refuses to blame the sick for being sick, who spends time with sinners and outcasts, and who doesn’t treat healing like a reward system. I can’t tell you why God hasn’t healed you, but I can tell you what I believe with my whole chest: your illness is not proof that you are failing God, and faith can exist inside uncertainty.

If this hits home, share it with a friend who’s tired of being told their suffering is their fault, subscribe for more conversations about Christian faith and chronic illness, and leave a review so others can find this community. What’s the most harmful thing you’ve been told about sickness and faith?

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A wheelchair destroyed under a garbage truck wheel. A holy card pierced while everything else held. A double rainbow after last rites in the NICU. Madeline Mead’s life with cerebral palsy is full of moments that force the question: do miracles happen, and, if so, why only some?

We talk with Madeline Meade, a Catholic psychological associate from outside Philadelphia who works with clients living with disabilities and chronic illness. She breaks down what cerebral palsy actually is, how spasticity and muscle tightness affect daily function, and the exhaustion insomnia causes. Madeline also shares what has helped her cope, including praying the rosary during sleepless nights and learning when to reach for medication as a last resort.

The heart of our conversation is faith and identity. Madeline speaks candidly about seasons of anger with Christ, especially when friends hit milestones she could not, and why she still chooses to see God as a steady Father. From the clinical side, she explains identity loss after injury or diagnosis, the unique grief of congenital disability, and a powerful reframe: interdependence does not mean helplessness. We also dig into ableist microaggressions and how to turn subtle insults into motivation, boundaries, and self-respect.

If you care about faith and disability, Christian encouragement for chronic illness, disability advocacy, or the mental health reality behind “staying positive,” this conversation will meet you with honesty and hope. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

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🌱Join the Community:

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  Christians With Chronic Illnesses Support Group
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You can believe in Jesus and still feel crushed by depression and you can look “fine” while you’re quietly fighting to stay alive. I’m L. A. Sprague, and this is one of the most vulnerable stories I’ve ever shared: my experience with major depressive disorder  and the long habit of masking pain in Christian spaces that taught me sadness was shameful or even spiritual failure. (Content warning: self-harm, suicidal ideation, domestic violence, trauma, and inpatient mental health care.)

I walk through what depression actually felt like in my body and mind: numbness, insomnia, agitation, intrusive and violent images, paranoia that people hated me, and moments when driving became dangerous. I also unpack how certain church messages can deepen stigma, why some forms of “biblical counseling” left me feeling worse, and how a distorted view of martyrdom became a pipeline for passive suicidal thinking.

Then I share what helped me survive and rebuild: going to a mental hospital when I hit a breaking point, starting medication and finally sleeping again, creating a safety plan with warning signs and people to call, and finding healthier support through therapy, friends, and practical steps that reduce risk. My faith is part of the story too, including deconstruction, doubt, and the comfort of a Savior who knows what abandonment feels like.

If you’re in a dark place, you’re not alone, and you’re not beyond help. Listen, share this with someone who needs it, and please follow, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can find this community.

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  Christians With Chronic Illnesses Support Group
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We invited April Aramanda (host of the Invisible Illness Club) to talk with us about what it looks like to live with chronic illness while staying honest with God and still reaching for joy.

April shares her real-life health roller coaster: fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis, nerve pain from degenerative disc issues, hyperthyroidism, kidney failure after a medication reaction, POTS with an atypical presentation, and now a parathyroid problem that’s spiking heart rate and blood pressure. We dig into what helped her finally get clarity through specialized testing at Mayo Clinic, why “standard” results can miss real symptoms, and how to keep advocating for yourself without losing heart.

We also get practical about coping strategies that actually work on the hard days: heating pads and ice packs, hydration habits, hobbies that pull your mind out of pain, worship playlists for praise and peace, and a simple five-senses grounding exercise for anxiety. One of the biggest takeaways is spiritual and freeing: you can be mad at God and still be faithful.

If you need encouragement that doesn’t gloss over suffering, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels alone, and leave a review so more people living with invisible illness can find this conversation.

Join The Invisible Illness Club:
 https://theinvisibleillnessclub.com/connect

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DayQuil-fueled honesty, hospital chaos, and the kind of humor you only learn after too many appointments. I’m L. A. Sprague, and while I’m fighting a cold (yes, I’m congested and a little loopy), I’m reading through Reddit threads from the chronic illness community and reacting to the funniest, strangest, and most relatable medical moments people have lived through.

We get into everything from wholesome nurse stories and pop culture in the hospital halls to the darker side of “funny,” like medication reactions, ER overwhelm, and waking up confused after pain meds. It’s a reminder that chronic illness isn’t just symptoms like POTS, tachycardia, or endometriosis pain, it’s also the emotional whiplash of trying to stay human in a system that can feel impersonal.

Then we shift into sharp comebacks and petty one-liners people use when strangers misunderstand disability, including the reality of ambulatory wheelchair users and the ableist assumptions that show up in public. As a Christian with chronic illness, I also talk through a tender topic: why “I’m praying for you” can be deeply comforting in one moment and exhausting in another, depending on the tone, the theology, and whether you feel seen as a person.

If you need a break from heaviness without pretending life is easy, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who gets it, and leave a review so more chronically ill Christians can find the show.

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🧡Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses:

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🌱Join the Community:

•  Facebook Group:
  Christians With Chronic Illnesses Support Group
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🔗Visit our website

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