July is wonderful month to remind everyone that all people have varying abilities and this is what makes us unique. It is a great time for advocacy and an extra chance to get to know people who are different than you. This past month the owner of Sava Wellness, Sarah, participated in a women’s health art series!

Title – Sarah – Sava Wellness – Women’s Health Series 2024

This portrait was painted in watercolour by Barbara Hulme of Manchester from photos that Sarah sent her. Here is the story that goes along with the portrait.

“My name is Sarah ☺️

My hobbies include reading (my favourite!), taking walks in nature (I am fortunate to live close to the Rocky Mountains), blogging about chronic illness/disability, and getting dressed up.

Reading is very important to me because it gives me escape and in certain books allows me to learn different things and perspectives.

When I say I enjoy getting dressed up I mean putting on a fancy dress and high heels and going somewhere nice. I can’t always do this, but when I can it makes me feel beautiful and empowered. I feel like putting on fancy clothes is like my armour, I can look “normal” and if people look at me it is because I look nice and not because they are trying to figure out if I “look sick”. I feel almost unstoppable in a beautiful dress.

At home I have day and night pjs, which with a cup of tea makes reading a wonderful experience and helps pass the days!

My favourite artist is Trisha Romance, a Canadian!

I have had chronic illness for all of my life but did not start to be diagnosed until 2017. Currently I have Lyme disease with its many co-infections and many other conditions that go along with it such as debilitating chronic fatigue.

I started a business called Sava Wellness to bring awareness to chronic illness and disability.

Sava Wellness is a chronic illness support business where people with chronic illnesses and people with visible and invisible disabilities can come to be supported. We offer virtual one-on-one appointments to provide support and strategies for navigating chronic illness and disabilities. I also doing speaking engagements to bring awareness!”

Materials – Watercolour, gouache, fine liner and pencil crayon on watercolour paper size (30.5 x 40.6 cm) unframed

Price – £639 ($814) plus package and postage

Prints – £40 plus package and postage

You can still purchase this original and it’s prints! You can do this through her website here or through her Instagram, here.

 A Final Note

Disability Pride Month might only be for the duration of July, but that does not mean that we should stop advocating or stop trying to understand each other better. Keep checking in with your friends/family with chronic illness and/or disabilities.

If you would like to learn more about chronic illness/disability but don’t want to ask your family or friends, reach out and book a chronic illness/disability support meeting with Sarah for $20 where she can answer your questions.