But You Don't Look Sick? : ButYouDontLookSick.com Staff

We are proud to work with so many talented and dedicated staff memberrs.

Guest Writers

Tammi Appelman - I am a disabled mother with 2 great kids, Krystiann age 13 and Ryan (almost) age 9. I’ve suffered from Chronic Low Back and Neck Pain, Bi-Polar II and Osteoarthritis most of my life. I transplanted from the lush Willamette valley of NW Oregon to the mountains of Southwest Colorado two years ago. I miss the green of the NW but found a wonderful man, a true “home” and a new kind of beauty here in the San Juans. I volunteer as secretary on the board of directors of a local soup kitchen, once a month. I’m learning, slowly and painfully, how to manage my spoons and have found that the true blessing in these invisible diseases is being able to effectively minister to others with empathy and true understanding of their misfortune.

Elisabeth Atkins, is 16 years old was recently diagnosed with Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis. She is currently home schooled with plans to go back to public school next year. She would like to become a pediatric rheumatologist some day, so she can help other children/teens with similar illnesses. She loves to read and write and I spends a lot of time on the computer!

Jenni Bevis - I am a 29 year old mum with 2 children. I work part time as a primary teacher. I like reading as well as music, listening to it as well as singing and playing in bands and groups. The church and Christianity form a big part of my life. I have rheumatoid arthritis, I first got ill when I was 21 and things have progressed to severe disease. It's not been all bad for me because I met my lush husband in hospital (he was my nurse) and you really do meet some fascinating people in the rheumatoid world. It has helped me so much to know other younger people with hidden chronic illnesses and to share the highs and lows with people who know what it is really like.

Karen Brauer - I am 40 (with a body that is older and a brain that is younger), happily married, and childless by choice. I am the proud guardian of the world's most spoiled English springer spaniel. I work for my local newspapers proofreading, building and placing advertisements electronically on the pages. I am blessed with Sjogren's syndrome, fibromyalgia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, periodic limb movement disorder and celiac disease. My interests include: photography, music, reading, writing and film.

Robyn Hunter 31, has been struggling with major depressive disorder for 8 years and anorexia nervosa for over 20 years and also battles several associated medical problems. She is a freelance writer contributing to several journals and is thrilled to be part of the butyoudontlooksick.com staff. Robyn resides in Boston with her husband, David, and their four cats.

Janet Miserandino is the proud mother of Christine, a writer and the founder of the website butyoudontlooksick.com, and Dominick. Married to Donald, a Real Estate appraiser, for almost 33 years, Janet is a Pre-K teacher with the New York City Board of Ed. Beside her role as wife and mom, Janet enjoys theater, bowling and dancing.

Jane Pope is from Long Island, NY. She enjoys reading and writing and loves her job as a librarian in Merrick. She works as editor and writer for Butyoudontlooksick.com and we are happy to have her! In her spare time, she enjoys drinking tea, singing in church and taking care of her cat, Leo.

Sheila Talley was transplanted from her native Kansas City to Papillion, Nebraska in 1993 along with her husband of 27 years, Ron, her son John and daughter Carianne, both now young adults; along with three miniature schnauzers, one foster miniature schnauzer, three elderly cats, a rescue cockatiel, and numerous fish. Sheila became disabled several years ago due to failed back surgeries and myasthenia gravis, along with surviving a DVT caused by antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. She loves to write about the humorous events that seem to inevitably happen to her because of her "invisibilities" and about finding the bright and lovely spots in life wherever they may occur. Her interests include crochet designing, collecting antique crochet patterns, cooking, gardening, making beaded jewelry, and working in miniature schnauzer rescue.
My name is Stefanie and I was diagnosed with Rheumatory Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and SLE lupus. I used to do wedding planning but then opted for an office job, but now I’ve taken some time off and I’m enjoying a much needed rest. I enjoy writing (having taken English lit and History in college) and I love reading, watching movies and spending time with my favorite guy in the whole world. I am currently working on bringing the silent disease of Lupus out into the public eye especially here in Canada. I currently live in Woodbridge Ontario Canada “The Great White North!”, and I share the spoons theory everywhere I go!