Health Story Hub
Daughter describes the stress of caring for her aging parent from geographically distant place. Details many issues that created burnout in her caregiver role, including feeling isolated and embarrassed about her struggle until she found out all of the problems she faced were very common for caregivers in her position. Useful to discuss how difficult it is to care for elderly parents, especially from a distance, and caregiver burnout.
An African American woman at a predominantly white institution is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Along with therapy, she works through her struggles with various mindfulness strategies, including a method described by Ryder Carroll as “bullet journaling.” Her story encourages consideration of writing as a mental health practice, describes the author’s adaptations of the bullet journal technique, and contains links to a TED talk and a book that go into more detail about this particular approach to intentionality. Useful starting point for talking about therapeutic (and general mental health maintenance) uses of writing. Glances of POC experiences in PWI’s, though not much detail.
Allyson Felix is an Olympic athlete who experienced complications with her pregnancy. She prepared for her pregnancy, exercising and trying to take every precaution. However, on a routine check-up, she was informed she had grave preeclampsia. Frightened and confused, Felix learned black women were at a higher risk for these complications. Felix received quality care and recovered from the disease, but wants all pregnant women to be aware of this risk. This is a quick read of about 10 minutes for intermediate level Spanish readers. The Q & A interview format help with comprehension. Readily usable in a medical Spanish class to expose students to health disparities (risk factors, access to care, outcomes) or in a mid-level composition, conversation or health narratives course.
This 5 page newspaper article (about a 15 minute read for advanced Spanish speakers; more for lower levels) is a transcript of an addict’s story as told to a Narcotics Anonymous group. Jose Antonio says that he was trapped by a “circle of death” and describes how addiction is a disease that isolates the addict from the world. NA teaches him the difference between religion and spirituality and he explains how this insight was important to his sobriety. Useful for insights into 12-step programs and their approach to addiction, perhaps best for a community group discussion.
Shaffrey describes the life of a woman, Brittany Newton, who suffered from a heroin addiction and died when she was 30 years old. She was also HIV-positive–for many years, doctors have transplanted organs from one HIV-positive person to another. This happened in the case of Brittany’s donated heart, and Brittany’s family was able to hear her heart beating in Maria’s, the transplant recipient’s, chest. 5 minute read, appropriate for upper intermediate Spanish learners.
This CDC-based cautionary tale about the dangers of smoking involves a Michigan man who was diagnosed with diabetes as a child. It stresses how angry Bill is to have accepted the first cigarette as a teenager, given the complications for diabetes caused by smoking. At 37, he lost sight in his left eye and later had kidney failure. Two years later his leg was amputated due to poor circulation, which motivated him to quit smoking. He nonetheless died of cardiac disease at age 42. A 5-7 minute read for intermediate level Spanish speakers – written in simple past tenses – it leans heavily into the cautionary tale of not smoking. It also gives vivid details of how much worse smoking is for diabetics, giving a starting point for discussion of both smoking and diabetes. Usable in mid-level medical Spanish courses, composition or conversation; stylistically might not be very compelling as a health narrative.
The CDC website where this written narrative is posted also offers an English translation and biography of Bill.
Barbara Stepko details the experience of five people with depression. One of these is Nita Sweeney. As a child, Nita felt that she lived with an immense melancholy that prevented her from functioning. These feelings stayed with Nita throughout her professional years. Her grave feelings weighed on her until she made a plan to take her life. She was stopped by a call from her therapist. Because of this professional, Nita spent time in the hospital and used writing, running, and medications to stabilize herself. Useful for community groups to discuss stigma of seeking help for mental illness.
This narrative is from a woman whose struggle with bulimia worsened during the Covid lockdowns. Maria describes the impact of the isolation and forced inactivity that came from lockdown, and the physical and mental damage she has suffered from her bulimia during the quarantine. Contextualizes her personal struggle in social and cultural frameworks of beauty and control, making this useful for advanced intermediate and above students – and educated lay adults – to discuss eating disorders.
Mike Higgens is a dad, husband, and pastor. He tells a short story of the day he was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome. Although he began to show symptoms at age 12, he was not diagnosed until he was 28. The article could prompt discussion about the importance for physicians to listen to patient stories as well as the signifcance of social support.
A woman who was diagnosed with gestational diabetes learns to take this diagnosis seriously because of possible effects on the baby. This story emphasizes the importance of prenatal doctor’s visits and may be best suited for a community group. Medical Spanish courses might talk about health education for Spanish speaking communities.