A rarity (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798999606020)

This four-part, tell-all prose and poetry collection depicts the life, struggles, and hopeful, eventual acceptance of being chronically ill. The author, Mattie Paige, draws you into her life living with a rare disease, Cystic Fibrosis (CF). "a rarity" starts with the processing of her childhood, beginning from the imagined perspective of her parents having twins in the NICU, to her fifth grade self wondering why her friends did not face the same medical situations she did. The second part describes the growing pains as an adolescent with a chronic illness trying to understand and advocate for herself. The third installment processes her early adulthood with an aging body and a progressive disease. The fourth and final part dives into the emotions she often finds comfort in, the silver linings of her life, and the thoughts and beliefs that help her cope.

The author states that it is the most meaningful collection she has written and that the book is meant to shed light on the experiences many people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental illnesses, impairments, etc. may experience or relate to. You'll leave this captivating journey with newfound imagery, overwhelming emotional validation, and a new appreciation for the rareness of life.