About Us
Meet your Chronic Sisters
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Jess
CO-HOST & CO-FOUNDER
Jess has struggled with deep infiltrating stage 4 endometriosis for the best part of 10 years. After 3 laparoscopic surgeries and significant post operative complications for the incurable disease, Jess continues to live with; severe ongoing pelvic pain, dyspareunia, vaginismus and irritable bowel syndrome.
The first 6 months of 2021 saw Jess having an adenotonsillectomy, 2 laparoscopies, a bout of glandular fever, and a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues.
On top of these chronic illnesses, Jess has had a long, tumultuous relationship with two GI parasites, suffers with significant psoriasis and randomly was born with an extra lumbar vertebrae and no wisdom teeth!
Jess is a devoted ICU and palliative nurse who is passionate about educating the world on invisible chronic illnesses and validating the experience for others.
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Sian
CO-HOST & CO FOUNDER
Born with a rare genetic connective tissue disorder, Marfan Syndrome, Sian has been a life long spoonie.
Sian’s first medical emergency was to repair a diaphramatic hernia. During this she was diagnosed with scoliosis (curvature of the spine). At the age of 6 she was diagnosed with congenital heart disease, specifically dilated aorta and mitral valve prolapse. This lead to 2 open heart surgeries, 1 to replace her aortic root and the other to replace her aortic valve with a mechanical one.
The teenage years brought chronic migraines into Sian’s life which are yet to be managed effectively.
Sian unfortunately suffered an ischemic stroke at the age of 24 but was luckily quick to recover. In the last few years Sian has battled with protrusio acetabuli (hip socket defect) which has resulted in a total hip replacement before she was 30.
Against all the odds, Sian is a passionate registered nurse and is dedicated to making the lives of sick children as good as they can be.
Who are The Chronic Sisters?
Chronic illnesses can be debilitating at the best of times. But what happens when you can’t physically see what someone is battling everyday? Jess and Sian share their life and near death experiences and all the raw details in between on their new podcast “The Chronic Sisters”.
The podcast was created as a passion project that has spread to listeners all over the world . The two 20 something girls from Perth WA, talk honestly about their experiences with a dash of medical jargon breakdown. Both of the girls are practicing registered nurses who look after incredibly sick children and their families everyday but are self-proclaimed, terrible at looking after themselves. Via their weekly podcasts, Jess and Sian continue to validate those who suffer in silence and educate those who wish to support their “spoonies” better.
“You don’t look sick, is the WORST thing to say to someone with a chronic illness””
Jess and Sian break down the stigma of living with an invisible disability in the modern day world and encourage their listeners to care for themselves first. Jess and Sian speak openly about how they struggle with living up to the expectation of society whilst also trying to be gentle with themselves as they would their patients. With over 22,000 streams from over 19 countries, in the short time the podcast has been out, Jess and Sian have captivated their audience with their vulnerability and humour
