About

About Broken Masterpieces

I started this blog after looking for resources on chronic illness as I deal with my hemiplegic migraines (HM). I noticed that there isn’t a lot out there written from a Christian perspective. So, I prayed about starting something of my own — for a LONG time before I finally got up the nerve. I want to encourage others who also deal with chronic illnesses by sharing my thoughts on the chronically ill life.

I decided to name my blog “Broken Masterpieces” because Ephesians 2:10 says that “we are his [God’s] workmanship” — another word for something that has been made. To me, that has the connotation of a work of art, one that has been worked on over and over and over again until it’s perfect. God’s children are His masterpieces. He works on them continuously until they are perfect, complete representations of Him. I chose the adjective “broken” because those of us who are chronically ill appear broken to the outside world or even in our own minds. But God uses our brokenness to create an even more beautiful and stronger masterpiece.

On this blog, you will find truth from God’s Word, encouragement from the fact that you are not alone, and occasionally recommendations for resources that helped me think right and might help you, too (e.g., books, songs, other blogs, etc.).

About Krystal Allweil

So, what is my story? Why am I qualified to write this blog? Who in the world am I?

I am a Christian

I chose to believe that God would forgive me for my sin when I was five years old. My dad showed me from God’s Word that I am a sinner and my sin offends the Creator God. But Dad also showed me that God has provided a plan to establish a relationship with me.

God’s plan required a perfect sacrifice, and that sacrifice was provided in the form of God’s Son, Jesus, who took my sin on Himself and suffered God’s wrath in my place. By believing that this is true and asking God’s forgiveness for my sin, I have an everlasting relationship with God and eternal life with Him in heaven. (By the way, you can too. If you have questions, please contact me.)

Life has not been all sunshine and roses since then — hello, blog for chronically ill people written by a chronically ill person — but I know that one day, “God shall wipe away all tears from [my] eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (Revelation 21:4). One day, everything will be made right, and in that I have hope.

I am a Chronically Ill Person … and Have Been for a While

I seem to have had something wrong with me from the time I was twelve years old. I have had heart issues, skin issues, reproductive issues, neurological issues — it’s almost easier to list the systems that I have not had affected by illness. But the most chronic of my issues is my hemiplegic migraines (The Migraine Trust gives a great definition of hemiplegic migraines on their website).

I had my first hemiplegic migraine attack in August of 2008. I had just been in China, so the doctors put me in the hospital and ran almost every test under the sun to try to figure out what was going on with me. Hemiplegic migraines are still relatively new in medical circles and are not understood very well yet or even accepted as a valid diagnosis by some doctors. Long story short (you can read the whole thing in this post), it took almost seven years to get a correct, official diagnosis.

By God’s grace, I have two wonderful doctors who are working together to help me keep my HM controlled as naturally as possible, but I will always have to deal with these debilitating migraine attacks and the issues that come with them.

I am a Friend

I have a desire to encourage others like me who struggle with a chronic illness. I have been greatly encouraged to realize that I am not alone in facing the issues I do. Others have the same struggles, the same thoughts. I want to encourage you the same way.

About Communicating

I would love to hear your story! I don’t include a comments section in many of my posts because a lot of what I say is very personal and can be controversial as well. My goal is to encourage, not to invite debate. I do want to hear from you, though! So please contact me through the contact form or via the Contact tab above!