ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Broken Body Love Letters Project makes space in which to write and share the real story of life in a body with a long-term health condition or chronic illness. It relies on your truth – what do you think we should know about it?

Valk Fisher lives with type 1 diabetes. The hardest thing about being first diagnosed is having a vision of self I could relate to. I had a doctor and mentor who encouraged me to create it. What does it mean to live authentically in a body with health concerns? I wanted a community in doing and sharing this. Broken Bodies is a forum for this community.

WHY THIS PROJECT?

One of the hardest parts about a diagnosis is the narrative attached to it, all the ideas of what a diagnosis supposedly “means.” The more important question is – what does it mean to you?

When I was diagnosed with diabetes, a doctor encouraged me to write. My own story. Not the story told by others. This was the first step to finding agency and hope after diagnosis.

I wanted a community in doing and sharing this. Broken Bodies is a forum for this community.

TONGUE-IN-CHEEK

This is a project for reclaiming our own bodily narratives. As such, we reclaim what is true, what is possible, what story we wish to write. We reclaim our bodies in their wholeness. The body is already whole. “Broken Body” letters exist to show, exactly, how our bodies, in the fullness of their potential, were never broken.

Yes! This is an inclusive, collaborative project. We want voices to support each other as we write our own bodily stories! 

No condition is too invisible.

CAN I SHARE?

This is an inclusive, collaborative project. If you believe you live with a health condition or concern, you are welcome to share. You are also welcome to share if you care for someone with a health condition or concern.

ABOUT THE book

Broken Body Love Letters will inform a book about narratives of chronic illness. All letters are submitted anonymously and no letters will be used or excerpted without express consent. If you’d like to submit your experience, you can do so below.