Suzanne Rogers, star of Days Of Our Lives, has Myasthenia Gravis. She has played Maggie Horton on the show for more than 20 years. Ms. Rogers has been a performer since she was a child, starting with dancing. She danced so well that she became one of the Rockets.

When her singing talent was discovered, she then became an actress, dancer and singer on Broadway and performed on the Ed Sullivan show. In 1973, she became Maggie Horton on Days of Our Lives when she decided that she wanted a full-time career. In 1984, she was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and went through very debilitating symptoms.

Ms. Rogers wasn’t able to work for one year because of her extreme difficulty with speaking, double vision and problems with eating which caused her to lose a great deal of weight. After receiving the correct treatment including medication, she was able to return to work after going into remission. Her character has Myasthenia Gravis too, so she is able to share this condition with her fans and others.

She continues to inspire people by contacting other people with Myasthenia Gravis and is now the spokesperson for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation.

Although remission is not the outcome for all people with Myasthenia Gravis, it helps me to see that it is possible. I commend Suzanne Rogers from Days Of Our Lives for speaking out about her condition when she could have hid it.

This week, I’ll be attending a blogging conference, IzeaFest. The schedule is full of learning and networking experiences. Normally I’d be worried about being fatigued and not feeling well but after attending the Affiliate Summit I learned how to balance having a chronic illness and being a conference attendee.  Here are the Top Ten Tips To Get The Most Out of a Blog Conference When You Are Chronically Ill:

1. Rest Up the week before. Get yourself into a good sleeping pattern and even take some naps during the day so you can feel well rested before the conference.
2. Schedule Your Time at the conference. Go through the schedule provided including the speakers, events and parties. Prioritize what is most important for your needs. In case you need a break, you can take it during the least necessary events. Although being there in person is the perfect scenario, most conferences are available on video later so you can take advantage of viewing what you missed.
3. Eat Healthy Meals so that you are taking good care of yourself. If food is provided, take fruit or some other snacks with you. Also, remember to keep well hydrated.
4. Take Advantage of Breaks. If you are going to attend parties and other networking events, then use the allotted break times to either nap or just find a quiet place to close your eyes and it easy for a few minutes.
5. Take Your Medications on Time. Keep a timer to remind you to take your meds. I use the silent alarm clock on my cell phone. It can get so hectic that it’s easy to forget to take your prescriptions.
6. Find a Buddy. A buddy can take notes for you, pass out your business cards, let people know that you needed a break, etc.  There are many things that you can do in return – write a blog post about that person, mention their help on Social Networking forums, write a reference for them, etc.
7. Be Prepared to Miss Something. Even people who are healthy end up missing an event or even more. Sometimes it’s just too overwhelming. Travel problems may occur. Healthy people get sick too. There are many reasons. So don’t be disappointed if you don’t hear a speaker or attend an after party.
8. Take Lots of Photos. Keep your camera with you at all times and take photos of the people and happenings around you. Try to write down a short note about the photo so you’ll remember the details later. This will allow you to post about the conference later and create lots of memories.
9. Hand out Business Cards. Don’t push them on people, but after you start a conversation about the other person, ask them for their card, write down some notes on the back and then give them yours. If you can’t do a lot of networking, you can quickly introduce yourself, say that you need a break and really want to get to know them. Ask for theirs first again.
10. Relax and Enjoy! You’ve made it to the conference and that in itself is a big accomplishment. Have fun, meet new people, network and focus on the positives.

My advice for photos is to use an xshot so you can be in the photo too. Plus, using this camera extender will get people to notice you.

It is possible to work from home when you are disabled or have a chronic illness by blogging. If you can use a computer, spend a few hours a week online and can learn directions on writing blog posts, you can earn money online.

One of the main things you will need to help you in this endeavor, is web hosting. Having your own domain name and hosting helps you to earn more money because you will have more work options available to you. Finding a reliable web host can be difficult, especially when you are brand new to blogging. You can follow this guide to learn what you type of web host you need. You’ll need to know how much disk space you need, the cost you will pay either per month or per year and the type of support that is provided.

I suggest going with a host that has 24 hour support with a toll-free number. When you are brand new to blogging, you will have a lot of questions. You may also run into problems that you are unable to deal with on your own, so look for a good support program.

Finding dedicated server hosting does not have to be a daunting task. It can be the start of working at home by blogging.

Have you ever been refused primary medical care if you have are chronically ill? If so, do you have one chronic illness or multiple ones? I’m trying to get a handle on this issue because it seems to be a trend that I’m learning about. It has also happened to me.

I’ve either been turned down by doctors’ offices on the phone before my first appointment when I explain that I have multiple chronic illnesses, been told that I can longer remain a patient because my care is too complicated or have had to “fire” doctors who refuse to maintain the tests and/or relationships with the many specialists that I must see.

You may be wondering why I divulge my health information on an initial phone call to a doctor. I’ve learned to do that because I don’t want to make an appointment, drive there, fill out forms and then be told that I’m not wanted. It saves me time and energy.

I’d like to hear what your history has been with this situation please. This can be the first step in promoting our issue and trying to get a solution for it.

I was pleased to learn about a college scholarship for people who use a wheelchair. This scholarship is for $500 and is expected to be used for books or other extra needed items for full time students. This is provided two times a year, fall and spring and has other requirements besides the use of a wheelchair and those are that the student must:

• Be enrolled in an accredited two or four year college
• Have a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Complete a 500 word essay by the deadline specified
• Be a legal resident of the USA
• Complete an application by the deadline
• Submit two character references (more information about this will be provided after the application is received)

The deadline for the upcoming fall scholarship is July 31, 2009 and can be completed online or via the mail. If done by the mail, the postmark must be July 31, 2009. There are two questions for this essay. Only one needs to be completed:

• What area of your school do you think would benefit from improved accessibility and how would you improve it?
• What area of your school do you feel has excellent accessibility and why?

The AmeriGlide Achiever Scholarship enables someone who faces challenges every day to not only earn money but to promote what is needed to make colleges more accessible for people with disabilities.

When I visit Disney World, which I do often, I forget that about my illnesses. I feel that I am in a place where I can forget all of my problems the minute I pass through the “gates” and see the words, “Welcome to Disney World”.

My favorite park is the Magic Kingdom because there of the different lands, including, Fantasy Land, Adventure Land, Tomorrow Land and my favorite Toon Town. I know that Toon Town is really for preschoolers, but that’s where I get to visit with my all time favorite Disney character, the one that I consider my boyfriend, Mickey Mouse!

There are so many attractions in Disney World, but I think the one I like best is Mickey PhilharMagic. This is a 3D Movie that features Donald Duck, who tries to take over Mickey’s orchestra by wearing his wizard hat. Donald then goes on adventures that feature scenes from Disney Movies. The effects from this movie and the music always have me laughing. The music has me singing along (much to the regret of my family).

One of the best things about Disney World is that it is accessible to people with disabilities. I use my scooter due to having to walk long distances. I never have trouble getting around, including using the buses, monorails and getting into the attractions.

When I went into a remission (actually it turned out to be a big improvement and not a true remission) I wanted to celebrate. I went to Community Hall and asked what could be done. They gave me and my family passes to the VIP section of the parade that day. We totally enjoyed ourselves! We were up close to the parade and the characters stopped by so we could take photos. Disney parades are a joy to see, but to be up close and personal makes it even better, if that’s possible.

So if you are disabled or have health problems, don’t think that you can’t enjoy yourself at Disney World. You will need a place to order your Disney Tickets of course and I suggest you do that in advance to avoid waiting in line. And don’t forget to have a blast!