Samona Combs
When most students come to college, they're worried about things like buying books and getting along with their roommate. Students that have chronic health problems think about these things too, but what they worry about the most is fighting their constant struggle for wellness.
As a group for those with constant ailments, the Association for Chronic Health Empowerment (ACHE) aims to make fighting a little bit easier. Although Karey Osadchuk, the organization's founder, says group meetings are far from being a pity party.
"They are empowerment meetings, so we have speakers come and talk about topics that affect us like maintaining relationships, spirituality, and everyday life when you're sick all the time," Osadchuk said.
Osadchuck knows what it feels like to suffer from chronic health problems. In fact, her experiences living with Fibromyalgia (a disease that attacks the muscles and joints causing soreness and fatigue) inspired her to start the group after she was confronted by a woman for parking in a handicap space two years ago.
"I had a state permit, but she couldn't tell I had a disability. I was so frustrated at this point that I actually showed the woman my feeding tube and told her I had just had a heart attack," she recalls, "I was so mad and sad at the same time because I felt like no one understood what I was going through."
Marta Belsky, a RCPD specialist and the ACHE advisor, said the feelings of loneliness and anger that chronic health sufferers experience make outreach groups like this a cornerstone for present and incoming MSU students.
"It helps students to talk to others who have the same experience because many of the students face the same challenges and it's nice to know they are not the only one," she said, "Then they can tell future students that they can register with our office and take advantage of all the activities our office sponsors."
ACHE Meetings are held every other Wednesday at 6:30 in 114 Bessey Hall and they're always looking for new members.