Christians With Chronic Illnesses

L. A. Sprague
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  • CHRISTIANITY

Magnifying the voices of chronically ill brothers and sisters to inspirit their health journeys and their faith.

  1. 3D AGO

    B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL), POTS, and Christ's Comfort with Emily Hermann

    A cancer diagnosis at 28 weeks pregnant should shatter certainty—Emily chose to build something stronger. We sit down with her for a candid, heart-level conversation about B‑cell ALL, the shock of symptoms that didn’t add up, and the long road through treatment and maintenance. She explains the differences between IV, oral, and intrathecal chemo in clear, human terms and shares what sepsis, transfusions, and a surgically placed port actually feel like when they’re not bullet points on a pamphlet. Faith threads through every scene. Emily traces her early encounter with Jesus back to a camp sermon that made belief personal, then shows how that faith held when her marrow “went silent” and she feared for her baby and her own life. The story of the hemorrhaging woman became a lifeline—a picture of reaching for healing when shame and fear want you to hide. With insomnia and anxiety pressing hard, she found unusual calm through prayer, hymns, and handwritten lyric art taped to hospital walls. Her church community showed up with cards, calls, and real help that made prayer feel like presence. We also talk about the rest of her health story: growing up with SVT and POTS, fainting in high school hallways, suspecting hypermobile EDS, and navigating the blurry overlap between preexisting symptoms and chemo side effects like ICANS. Emily offers hard-won advice for what to say—and what not to say—to someone in treatment, urges listeners to advocate for themselves without shame, and shares resources that changed her life, from Imerman Angels’ one-on-one mentorship to Tough Friends Art Club and Play It Back Music. And because hope runs, she’s marathon training with POTS, proving that recovery can be slow, wise, and beautifully stubborn. If this conversation gave you courage or clarity, hit follow, rate the show, and share it with someone who needs steady hope today. Then tell us: what part of Emily’s journey spoke most to you? https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses and the encouragement of ill believers: https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Follow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty

    1h 5m

  2. FEB 16

    You Called Me Out with L. A. Sprague (Half-Time Show)

    What makes a day “good” when your body won’t cooperate? We open the door to your most honest questions and share the messy, hope-filled reality of living with chronic illness and active faith. From naming a POTS flare while recording to savoring a chef-made coffee treat and trading Marvel favorites, we explore how small joys, honest limits, and steady love can reshape expectations without denying pain. We dig into the hardest faith tension many of us face: believing God heals while not being healed yet. Drawing from scripture and lived experience, we unpack why “just have more faith” can wound, how to unlearn harmful interpretations without abandoning Jesus, and what resilient trust looks like when answers are slow. You’ll hear candid reflections on doubt, comfort, and the difference between tidy slogans and a God who meets us in the long wait. We also get practical about management and mindset. We admit the lifelong learning curve, the up-and-down seasons of electrolytes, pacing, movement, and boundaries, and the temptation to let illness own our identity. Instead, we choose discernment over judgment, grief with purpose over a victim script, and course correction over perfection. Community shows up here too: real check-ins, shared tips, and pop-culture joy that reminds us we’re people before patients. Press play for a grounded, compassionate conversation that holds both truth and tenderness—and leave with language for your own good day, even when symptoms won’t budge. If this resonated, follow and rate the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and drop an Orange Heart in the comments so we know you’re here. Subscribe for new episodes every Monday and send your story to cwcipodcast@gmail.com. Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses and the encouragement of ill believers: https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Follow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty

    24 min

  3. FEB 9

    Ankylosing Spondylitis, Crohn's, & Compassionate Parenting with David Heflin of Broken & Mended

    What if the path through chronic pain isn’t about pretending it’s gone, but learning to live boldly because Jesus is with you? That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with David Heflin, former pastor and founder of Broken and Mended, a support-group ministry serving people with chronic illness and chronic pain around the world. David opens up about ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn’s—how inflammation, stiffness, and fatigue reshape a day, a job, even a vacation—and the practical changes that keep him moving, from cushions and seating strategy to low-sugar eating and biologic treatments. We dig into faith where it’s hardest: parenting kids who suffer, talking about God without minimizing pain, and rejecting the prosperity gospel’s false promises. David shares how verses often used to guarantee healing make richer sense in context—aimed at seeking God’s kingdom and strength for our calling—while Scripture like Romans 5 and 2 Corinthians 12 anchors a sturdier hope. Grace proves sufficient not as a slogan but as oxygen, especially when bodies and plans won’t cooperate. We talk about identity beyond productivity, lament that tells the truth about loss, and a purpose that grows inside weakness rather than apart from it. You’ll also hear about David’s upcoming book, Purpose and Pain, which guides readers to grieve what illness takes and notice what God can grow: perseverance, character, empathy, and a living awareness that Christ’s power rests on us. We close with concrete ways churches can better serve the chronically ill—watch who goes missing, keep online access, visit, and host support groups—plus how Broken and Mended connects people to community across the U.S. and Africa. If you’ve felt alone in pain, this conversation names your experience and points to real help and hope. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review so others can find it. Tell us: what truth helps you on your hardest days? Visit David's ministry website! https://brokenandmended.org https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses and the encouragement of ill believers: https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Follow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty

    1h 11m

  4. FEB 2

    The Powerful Vulnerability of the Chronically Ill Christian with L. A. Sprague (Half Time Show)

    Everyone experiences vulnerability; being a faith-filled, chronically ill person increases that experience. Yet this is a chronically ill Christian’s secret power, not his/her weakness. Join L. A. Sprague as she expounds on Brené Brown's transformational research findings on vulnerability. If you are a chronically ill and/or faith-filled person, you may come to realize that you are more vulnerable than recently perceived. We often find vulnerability to be a weakness. Yet fully embracing vulnerability leads to true growth, intimate connection with others, genuine faith, and much more. Watch "The Price of Invulnerability" here: https://youtu.be/_UoMXF73j0c?si=zCL9laqvtQt4wY9F https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses and the encouragement of ill believers: https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Follow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty

    56 min

  5. JAN 26

    Epilepsy, MCAS and Healing with Karlie Clee

    What if healing doesn’t look like a cure, but like fewer seizures, gentler days, and a church that moves chairs so you can stay? Karlie joins us to share an unflinching story of misdiagnosis, an unexpected hysterectomy at 25, daily anaphylaxis risk, and the hard-won faith that carried her from Alberta to Texas and now Tennessee in search of care—and community that truly sees her. We trace the turning points: a surgeon who later found no sign of endometriosis, a nurse who quietly urged a move to the U.S., and a son who said the Holy Spirit wanted them at a church down the road. Karlie explains how mast cell activation triggers (pollen, perfume, dust, even big emotions) and dysautonomia reshaped her life, why worship music became her prayer when pain stole words, and how practical accommodations—sitting near exits, sunglasses during worship, perfume-free spaces—open doors for people with chronic illness to belong. We also unpack her work with Broken and Mended, a ministry creating support groups and devotionals on accepting change, budgeting limited energy, navigating finances, and caring for strained relationships. If you’ve been told to “just have more faith,” this conversation reframes healing as layered: spiritual steadiness, fewer medical crises, and the wisdom to honor limits before the body breaks. You’ll hear how Karlie found purpose in leading others, what church care can look like on the ground, and why being believed may be the most powerful medicine of all. Come for the story; leave with practical ideas, renewed hope, and language to ask for what you need. If this resonates, subscribe, rate, and share with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone. And tell us: what accommodation would help you show up more fully? https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses and the encouragement of ill believers: https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Follow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty

    1h 28m

  6. JAN 19

    Your Ability is Not Your Value - Half-Time Show with L. A. Sprague

    What if you aren't defined by what you can do, but by who you are? For listeners of faith, L. A. addresses the pressure to “believe it away.” She shares gentler ways to pray, scriptures that allow lament, and how to love without implying blame for unhealed bodies. Then she names both sides of the ledger—lost autonomy and career momentum, yes, but also surprising gains: a patient, joyful marriage; deeper compassion; and a redefined purpose grounded in inherent worth rather than output. The throughline is simple and strong: your value isn’t measured by steps taken or hours worked. It’s anchored in being human, being loved, and being here. L. A. Sprague opens up about living with POTS and how ordinary moments—sitting upright, driving a mile, bright lights through a window—can tilt a whole day. The conversation moves from raw honesty about loss to a vision for accessibility that lets people participate without apology: stools in stores, flexible workplaces, normalized wheelchair use, affordable electrolytes, and church spaces where lying down isn’t a spectacle but a supported choice. We also unpack the rhythm of good days and bad days. On lighter days, L. A.  reconnects with friends, lifts at the gym, and pours energy into the podcast. On heavy days, she shuts out every stimulus and chooses rest. That’s where the mental battle runs loud. So we get practical about support: ask specific questions, offer options when brain fog hits, reduce light and noise, bring meals and hydration, and honor the need for space. Presence beats platitudes. Small acts carry big dignity. Listen to learn, to feel seen, and to leave with clear ways to help the people you love. If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review with one thing you want to see change in your community. https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses and the encouragement of ill believers: https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Follow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty

    34 min

  7. JAN 12

    Lupus and God's Global Purpose with "Lucy"

    A candid journey from lupus diagnosis to a resilient yes for God’s global mission, weaving art, identity, and mobilization into a grounded path forward. We share five concrete ways to engage the nations even with chronic illness, and why weakness can sharpen calling. • lupus diagnosis reshaping life and dreams • identity shift from artist to mobilizer • Urbana and putting a yes on the table • what mobilization is and why it matters • day‑to‑day mobilizer work and the pipeline • severe flare, recovery, and stewardship of health • matching calling with climate and medical access • five ways to engage: pray, send, welcome, go, mobilize • how churches can send with holistic care • welcoming unreached neighbors like Somali communities • scripture‑based view of calling and encouragement Please follow, rate, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Patreon You can also follow our socials at @CWCIPodcast If you're interested in sharing your God given story, we'd love for you to email us at cwcipodcast at gmail.com This podcast cannot substitute for medical help and is purely for encouragement and entertainment. Please see your doctor before trying anything mentioned on this show. https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses and the encouragement of ill believers: https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Follow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty

    1h 15m
  8. Half-Time Show: What Do You Dream? With L. A. Sprague

    JAN 5

    Half-Time Show: What Do You Dream? With L. A. Sprague

    What if the loudest voice questioning your pain is your own? We open the Halftime Q&A with a brave question—how to tell if you’re exaggerating—and get honest about self-trust, integrity, and the quiet courage of listening to your body. From there, we tackle the push-or-rest dilemma with a practical day-to-day approach that respects both progress and limits, and we share simple scripts that help friends ask about illness without making us defend our reality. We also define what “chronic” really means and why that definition shapes treatment plans, expectations, and mental health. L. A. shares her POTS journey, including the role of ivabradine and midodrine, hydration and electrolytes, compression, and the steady power of sleep and gentle exercise. Along the way, she talks about dreams that changed—missions work, music tours—and the new purpose that grew in their place: creating a space where believers with chronic illness can be seen, heard, and encouraged. Money and work get candid attention too. We talk reduced hours, insurance worries, and medical bills, naming both the fear and the discipline it takes to budget well. Finally, we sit with the relief and grief of diagnosis—the validation that clears a path forward and the heartbreak of a life you didn’t choose. If you’ve wrestled with self-doubt, wondered how to support someone you love, or needed practical POTS management tips wrapped in faith and realism, this one meets you where you are. If the conversation helps, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs it. Your comments and questions guide future Q&As—send them our way on socials @CWCIPodcast or email cwcipodcast@gmail.com. https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses and the encouragement of ill believers: https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Follow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty

    27 min
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Magnifying the voices of chronically ill brothers and sisters to inspirit their health journeys and their faith.

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