{"id":4162,"date":"2019-09-30T08:00:14","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T08:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/floridareview.cah.ucf.edu\/?post_type=article&amp;p=4162"},"modified":"2019-09-30T08:00:14","modified_gmt":"2019-09-30T08:00:14","slug":"independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/article\/independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification\/","title":{"rendered":"Independence: A Memoir of Illness, Inaccess &amp; Objectification"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-4162 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/1_Litchman_title.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/1_Litchman_title-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Title panel: Independence: A Memoir of Illness, Inaccess &amp; Objectification (in hand-printing).\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-4224\" aria-label=\"Title panel: Independence: A Memoir of Illness, Inaccess &amp; Objectification (in hand-printing).\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-4224'>\n\t\t\t\tClick image to view in slide show.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/2_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/2_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Declining health first semester of college\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) &quot;It was late November, nearly two and a half months into my second year of college and my health had recently taken a steep decline.&quot; Rachel sits in a university hospital waiting room.  2) A nurse calls for Rachel. 3) Rachel follows the nurse down a hallway. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/3_Litchmnan.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/3_Litchmnan-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Diagnosis Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) Rachel sits in a doctor&#039;s office with the nurse. The nurse says, &quot;You have quite a history here.&quot; Rachel responds, &quot;Yeah, I have EDS.&quot; 2) A picture of the human body with lines pointing out all the symptoms out EDS and what part of the body they effect. &quot;EDS: (Ehler&#039;s Danlos Syndrome) A heritable disorder that affects the body&#039;s production of collagen. Makes connective tissue fragile and weak. Symptoms Include: chiari malfunction, organ prolapse, joint hypermobility, organ rupture, dysautonomia, osteoarthritis, aneurysms, stretchy skin, osteoporosis, frequent joint distoration, skin tearing, hernias.&quot;\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/4_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/4_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Diagnosis not helping.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) Rachel sitting in a doctor&#039;s office chair with the symptoms of EDS pointed out on her body. &quot;Symptoms (Continued): arthralgia, fainting, joint instability, frequent sprain, myalgia, chronic fatigue, poor wound healing, muscle spasms, GI upset, fast heartrate.&quot; 2) Rachel sitting in a doctor&#039;s office as the nurse speaks to her. &quot;I used to believe diagnosis of physical illness was the access key to better treatment to relief.&quot; \n\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/5_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/5_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Doctors exam and diagnostic criteria.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) Rachel sitting in the doctor&#039;s office as she is examined by the nurse. &quot;To belief.&quot; 2) A list of diagnostic criteria in diagnosing EDS. &quot;Criterion 1: Generalized joint hypermobility. Tally one point for each maneuver you can do. Seventy-five considered positive score (blank) out of nine. \nCriterion 2: Two or more of the following (A, B, C) must be present: A (five must be present). Unusually soft of velvety skin. Mild skin hyperextensibility. Aortic root dilation w\/ Z score seven plus two. Arachnodactyly. Recurrent or multiple abdominal hernias. Atrophic scarring...&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/6_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/6_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Images of physical tests\/body parts.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) The nurse testing Rachel for arachnodactyly. 2) Continued tests for arachnodactyly. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/7_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/7_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"More tests and body parts.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) The nurse testing Rachel for joint hypermobility. 2) The nurse testing Rachel for joint distortion. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/8_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/8_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"More tests and diagnostic criteria check marks.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) The nurse testing the elasticity of Rachel&#039;s skin. 2): The nurse checking off the criteria Rachel meets on a diagnostic checklist (unusually soft or velvety skin, mild skin hyperextensibility, arachnodactyly).\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/9_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/9_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Misdiagnosed with stress.\" aria-label=\"One Panel: The nurse sits across from Rachel with her diagnostic report on the table between them. The nurse says, &quot;Well you&#039;re an EDS kid alright.&quot; The score is seven out of nine. &quot;All my life I had been told I was just anxious, just stressed, just listening too much to myself.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/10_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/10_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Teasing and alienation.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) Rachel leaves the doctor&#039;s office. 2) Rachel walks down a school hallway. 3) Rachel (younger), in uniform, plays soccer in her eighth grade gym class. Two of her classmates (a boy and a girl) stand behind her. The girl yells, &quot;Hey chicken, legs, could you be any more uncoordinated!&quot; Rachel thinks, &quot;Fuck you.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/11_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/11_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Criticism and misunderstanding from mother.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) &quot;Why trust myself when every assertion meant I&#039;d be run again through the wringer of self-doubt and self blame.&quot; Younger Rachel stands in a bedroom with her mother, who lays in bed. Rachel says, &quot;Mommy, I don&#039;t feel well.&quot; 2) A close-up of Rachel&#039;s mother (looking annoyed). Her mother responds, &quot;Stop spending so much time writing those dumb stories. That&#039;ll solve the problem.&quot; 3) Rachel (upset) leaving the room. Her mother&#039;s footsteps are visible within the room. Her mother says, &quot;Oh walk away from me now. I see how it is.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/12_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/12_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Crying alone.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) Younger Rachel standing in front of a towel rack with tears on her face. 2) Rachel standing at sink telling herself &quot;I&#039;m fine.&quot; 3) Rachel leaning over the toilet (as if to vomit) telling herself &quot;Fine.&quot;\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/13_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/13_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Accused of eating disorder.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) Younger Rachel sitting on an examination table, being checked out by a doctor. Her mother (standing aside) says, &quot;She seems convinced that she&#039;s sick. I&#039;m concerned that she&#039;s doing it to herself.&quot; 2) &quot;I was-am-a teenage girl without family to turn to. This says more than I can ever say with words.&quot; The doctor and Rachel&#039;s mother stand outside the doctor&#039;s office, discussing Rachel. The doctor says, &quot;You know, this is the age young girls really start developing eating disorders.&quot; Her mother responds, &quot;That&#039;s what I assumed.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/14_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/14_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Same misunderstanding at 19 as at 13 years old.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) Thirteen-year-old Rachel (looking sad) being led down a hospital hallway by her mother (looking smug). Her mother says, &quot;What did I tell you.&quot; 2) Rachel being told to turn. 3) Nineteen-year-old Rachel being turned around by a nurse, who has her hands under Rachel&#039;s arms for support. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/15_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/15_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"19 is magic number for fall risk.\" aria-label=\"One Panel: The nurse holding up a clipboard with a document for falls risk assessment. The total at the bottom says twenty out of twenty-four. The nurse says, &quot;Nineteen is the magic number. For determining fall risk I mean.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/16_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/16_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Filling out symptom forms.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: The nurse assesses a checklist with three sections. The first is a list of tasks, the second is a description of balance, and the third are points assigned. &quot;Task: 8. Turning 360 degrees. Description of balance: Discontinuous steps (0 points), Continuous steps (1 point), Unsteady (grabs\/swagger) (0 points). Steady (1 point)...&quot; 2) A nurse inspects the bottom of the checklist, where the total is twenty out of twenty eight. A description beneath the total reads: A score of less than twenty-five usually indicates a problem. A score of less than nineteen indicates high fall risk. \n\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/17_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/17_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Told balance test is for old people.\" aria-label=\"One Panel: Rachel performs a balance assessment test in front of the nurse. Small and large balls are scattered around to indicate the room to be used for physical rehabilitation. The nurse says, &quot;Granted, this was made for old people.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/18_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/18_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Body speaking for me.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) Rachel stands in front of the nurse after the test. The nurse says, &quot;Of which you are not.&quot; 2) &quot;This year, my body took over and started speaking for me. I wish though it had a larger vocabulary. Larger and more legible than some mutated genes. There are consequences.&quot; Rachel&#039;s back is exposed, showing the odd curve of her spine as a result of her EDS. Rachel says, &quot;This literally could have chosen to affect any other joint in my body besides my spine. But no. No.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/19_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/19_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Various personal life features that influence situation.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) &quot;To being a girl.&quot; Rachel&#039;s legs and boots, her feet pointed in two different ways. 2) &quot;To being parentless.&quot; Rachel&#039;s legs in a bed. An empty chair sits in the background, with a note on it. 3) &quot;To having the wrong genes.&quot; Rachel in a hospital bed, hooked to a heart monitor and an IV tap. The empty chair sits beside the bed.\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/20_Litchman-scaled.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/20_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"More; being a runaway and independent.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) &quot;To being a runaway.&quot; Rachel&#039;s legs in a hospital bed. The chair with a note on it are in the center of the image. 2) &quot;To being independent.&quot; Rachel&#039;s legs in a hospital bed, with the focus being on the chair with the note. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/21_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/21_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Blood pressure and heart rate, alarms going off.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) &quot;Namely.&quot; One arrow underneath the word points to a heart monitor, with Rachel&#039;s vitals on the screen. Heartrate: 171 bpm. Blood pressure: 156\/97. The second arrow points to the next panel. 2) A nurse&#039;s station facing hospital rooms. A nurse looks at a computer. Hospital staff walk back and forth. Exclamation points and alarms come from room &quot;13&quot;, but are unnoticed by the staff. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/22_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/22_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Medical treatment in hospital.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) Rachel sitting up in a hospital bed. An IV drip is injected into her elbow. On the wall, a signs reads, &quot;Call. Don&#039;t fall.&quot; 2) A doctor checks Rachel&#039;s temperature in a hospital bed. 3) Rachel laying back in a hospital bed with multiple wires from the heart monitor attached to her. The doctor stands beside the bed reading from a clipboard.\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/23_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/23_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Lack of witness(es) to symptoms, doctors don&#039;t believe you.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) &quot;When your circumstances strip you of reliable witness:&quot; A close up of the empty chair in Rachel&#039;s hospital room. The note on it reads, &quot;Empty chair: An art project.&quot; 2) &quot;You are yourself forced you rely on yourself in a society that privileges dependency only when you are not (blank) enough to be independent.&quot; The doctor stands between Rachel (drawn as being very tiny in comparison) and a wheelchair. 3) A close up of a heart monitor displaying Rachel&#039;s heart rate and rhythm. It reads, &quot;BP: 156\/97. HR: 173 bpm.&quot; The doctor says, &quot;Everything looks great.&quot;  \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/24_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/24_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Violence to be told you&#039;re fine when you&#039;re not.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) &quot;I see it as violence.&quot; Rachel holds an &#039;after visit summary&#039; from the hospital, misdiagnosing her as having weakness and anxiety. 2) Rachel, in pain, walking down the sidewalk and telling herself &quot;I&#039;m fine.&quot; 3) &quot;I see all of it as violence.&quot; Rachel walking away from the hospital, telling herself &quot;I&#039;m fine.&quot; while thinking of the trip to the doctor&#039;s office she took with her mother when she was younger. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/25_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/25_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Even simply things like puppies--allergies, etc.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) &quot;Nov. 20, 2018.&quot; Rachel sits in a waiting room, approached by a nurse, who asks, &quot;Do you like puppies?&quot; Rachel responds, &quot;I love puppies.&quot; 2) Rachel, still sitting in a chair, adds, &quot;Though I&#039;m also severely allergic to the point I sometimes cannot breathe. Though I also know how to manage it. I have been allergic for-&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/26_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/26_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Invited to office for vision exercises.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) The nurse interrupts Rachel, explaining, &quot;I have this vision exercise that has a puppy on it.&quot; 2) Rachel, holding her arm, replies, &quot;Oh.&quot; The nurse, holding a clipboard, says, &quot;Here, come to my office, I&#039;ll show you.&quot; 3) Rachel follows the nurse down a hallway. The nurse says, &quot;There is also one with a cowboy on it and one with a doctor trying to get to his patient at the hospital.&quot; Rachel thinks, &quot;Let&#039;s not do the doctor one.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/27_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/27_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Eyescan test.\" aria-label=\"One Panel: Rachel stands behind the nurse, who is seated at a desk and looking at a &#039;puppy peripheral chart&#039; on a computer. The name of the website reads, &quot;eyecanlearn.com.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/28_litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/28_litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Computer screen with exercises for improving central-peripheral vision.\" aria-label=\"One Panel: A close up of the computer screen, reading, &quot;Tracking: Central-Peripheral Integration Exercises! Improve Central-Peripheral vision! Saccadic eye movements are the jumps our eyes make as they change targets. Our central visual system fixates on the target. At the same time, our peripheral or side vision locates the next target to tell our eyes where to move. During reading...&quot; A large button labeled &quot;PRINT&quot; is on the right side of the screen. Beneath it is a picture of an eye with an arrow pointing down at the words, &quot;central vision.&quot; and to the side at &quot;side vision.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/29_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/29_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Saccadic eye exercises.\" aria-label=\"One Panel: The nurse walks over to a table, Rachel following behind. The nurse explains, &quot;They are called saccadic eye exercises. They help retrain your eye reflexes for better focus.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/30_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/30_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Eye exercises demonstrated.\" aria-label=\"One Panel: Rachel stands beside the nurse at the table. The nurse holds a puppy peripheral chart pulled out of a box. The nurse says, &quot;See.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/31_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/31_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"More on eye exercises.\" aria-label=\"One Panel: A close up of the puppy peripheral chart held by the nurse. The nurse, explaining the exercise, says, &quot;You move your eyes back and forth between the puppy and the numbers.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/32_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/32_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Instructions to use slit to hold over reading material.\" aria-label=\"One Panel: The nurse, holding a piece of paper up for Rachel to see. A slit has been cut through the back. The nurse explains, &quot;You can also cut a slit in a piece of paper and hold it over the text when you read.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/33_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/33_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Walking down the street with slitted paper.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) Rachel looking through the slitted paper. The nurse, standing beside her, continues, &quot;That way you only see one line at a time and they don&#039;t blend together.&quot; 2) Rachel walking down the street, holding the slitted paper over her face. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/34_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/34_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Narrower perspective.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) A back, distant view of Rachel walking down a sidewalk with the slitted paper. 2) A frontal, closer view of Rachel holding the slitted paper. Her eyes are covered so only her nose is visible through the slit. 3) &quot;I think the perspective has been getting narrower.&quot; A close up view of Rachel&#039;s eyes through the slit.  \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/35_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/35_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Doctor&#039;s office with EKG wires and computer screen.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) Rachel sitting on a bed in a doctor&#039;s office. Her bra is visible, her shirt on the bed beside her. Her chest, stomach and waist are covered with EKG pads. 2) Rachel, standing, looking at her reflection on a laptop screen. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/36_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/36_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Making a video to talk to someone besides doctors.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) Rachel standing in front of a laptop on top of a dresser with her hands behind her back. To the laptop camera, Rachel says, &quot;I know this is weird to make a video of myself but I literally have not talked for two weeks to anyone besides doctors.&quot; 2) &quot;I have another art project to share with you.&quot; A close up of the laptop, showing Rachel on screen, holding up poster with words written on it. 3) &quot;It&#039;s called wait one sec.&quot; Rachel, still on screen, says, &quot;This is actually what I was studying independently in school until I failed.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/37_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/37_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Translation of Life into Math.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) &quot;It&#039;s called translation of life into math.&quot; Rachel, on screen and holding the poster, says, &quot;I have lived 10, 350, 491 minutes.&quot; 2) Rachel, on screen, continues, &quot;I get seen by most doctors for 20 minutes.&quot; 3) Rachel, poster lowered and her arms crossed, says nothing. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/38_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/38_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Doctor&#039;s office thoughts about proportion of life spent there.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) &quot;What is 20 minutes out of 10, 356, 480?&quot; Rachel, sleeping beneath a bed in a doctor&#039;s office. 2) A small window in the middle of the panel focuses on the bed. Beneath it, with only her arm visible, Rachel asks, &quot;Mommy?&quot; Fractions surround the window in neat, orderly squares, &quot;0, 1\/40, 3\/40, 4\/40, 5\/40, 6\/40, 7\/40...&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/39_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/39_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Proportion given: 0.00000193115.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) &quot;0.000001913115.&quot; A small window in the middle shows Rachel laying in a hospital bed. The window is surround by complete whiteness. 2) A small window in the middle shows Rachel&#039;s fingers with patches of black in the background. Whiteness surrounds the window. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/40_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/40_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Remembering children&#039;s hospital.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) A small window in the middle of the panel is completely black. Whiteness surrounds it. 2) &quot;On September 14th of 2020 my mom took my to Comer&#039;s Children&#039;s Hospital of Chicago.&quot; Feet and the legs of a chair are visible within the small window in the middle. A corner of the window reads, &quot;Nov. 2018.&quot; Someone asks, &quot;Where are you from?&quot; In answer, Rachel says, &quot;Chicago.&quot; The window is surrounded by complete whiteness. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/41_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/41_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Doctor noting that she was tearful. Why not?\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) The window expands, revealing Rachel sitting in a chair in a doctor&#039;s office with her arms crossed. A doctor sits across from her at a desk. The doctor asks, &quot;You going back home to see family for winter break?&quot; Rachel responds, &quot;No.&quot; White surrounds the window. 2) &quot;The doctor wrote about me, among other things, that I was tearful.&quot; The window expands to fill the entire panel. The doctor, with a hand on a keyboard and a examination table to his right, asks, &quot;Why not?&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/42_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/42_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Psychological labels put on her, separated\/abandoned.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) &quot;Anxious.&quot; A close up of Rachel&#039;s mother with her back turned, sitting in a chair. 2) &quot;Angry.&quot; Rachel&#039;s mother, slightly less close, her back still turned. An empty chair is next to her. 3) &quot;A risk to myself and others.&quot; Rachel&#039;s mother sits in the chair, quiet as Rachel is pulled away by an attendant. A gurney sits behind them. Rachel yells, &quot;Mommy!&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/43_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/43_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Transferred to behavioral health center.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) Rachel is strapped to a gurney, being loaded into a transfer van by two attendants. Her mother watches. Rachel says, &quot;Mommy! Mommy...&quot; 2) Rachel is being wheeled into Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health. An attendant says, &quot;Been a while since we made a transfer here from children&#039;s.&quot; The second attendant replies, &quot;I know man, it&#039;s not normal.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/44_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/44_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Remembering involuntary admission.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) Rachel (crying) being escorted down a hallway by a stern guard. A second watches from the front desk. Rachel holds a handful of personal items. 2) Rachel (older) leaving an Arboretum Clinic with a paper in hand. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/45_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/45_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Diagnosis reproduces illness.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) Rachel walks to a car waiting for her. 2) &quot;The people who diagnose illness are also the people who reproduce it.&quot; In the car, a man in the driver&#039;s seat asks, &quot;How&#039;d the appointment go?&quot; Rachel responds, &quot;Shitty. Made me bend in weird ways and now everything hurts.&quot; \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/46_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/46_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Diagnosis is not the answer.\" aria-label=\"Two Panels: 1) &quot;Diagnosis is not the answer.&quot; Rachel, looking at the &#039;After Visit Summary&#039; paper. The diagnosis reads, &quot;Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. POTS. Anxiety about health.&quot; 2) The man and Rachel driving down a street, away from the clinic. \" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/47_Litchman.jpeg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/47_Litchman-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"False sense of resolution.\" aria-label=\"Three Panels: 1) A doctor looks at a computer in a doctor&#039;s office. In the background, two chairs sit empty, one with a note hanging from it. 2) A hospital room, where a female janitor sweeps. In the background, the door is open. 3) &quot;It&#039;s a false sense of resolution.&quot; A close up of the chair. The note is ripped in half. The half hanging from the chair dangles, lopsided. It reads, &quot;Empty Chair: An.&quot; The other half of the note, upside down on the floor, reads, &quot;Art Project.&quot;\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My health had recently taken a steep decline&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4238,"template":"","categories":[9,141,49],"tags":[6,1182,1183],"class_list":["post-4162","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aquifer","category-graphic-narrative","category-literary-features","tag-aquifer-the-florida-review-online","tag-independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification","tag-rachel-litchman"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Independence: A Memoir of Illness, Inaccess &amp; Objectification - The Florida Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/article\/independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Independence: A Memoir of Illness, Inaccess &amp; Objectification - The Florida Review\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"My health had recently taken a steep decline...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/article\/independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Florida Review\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cah.ucf.edu\/floridareview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2019\/09\/Litchman-detail-h.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"708\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"378\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cah.ucf.edu\\\/floridareview\\\/article\\\/independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cah.ucf.edu\\\/floridareview\\\/article\\\/independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification\\\/\",\"name\":\"Independence: A Memoir of Illness, Inaccess &amp; Objectification - The Florida Review\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cah.ucf.edu\\\/floridareview\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cah.ucf.edu\\\/floridareview\\\/article\\\/independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cah.ucf.edu\\\/floridareview\\\/article\\\/independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cah.ucf.edu\\\/floridareview\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/43\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/Litchman-detail-h.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-09-30T08:00:14+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cah.ucf.edu\\\/floridareview\\\/article\\\/independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/cah.ucf.edu\\\/floridareview\\\/article\\\/independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cah.ucf.edu\\\/floridareview\\\/article\\\/independence-a-memoir-of-illness-inaccess-objectification\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cah.ucf.edu\\\/floridareview\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/43\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/Litchman-detail-h.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cah.ucf.edu\\\/floridareview\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/43\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/Litchman-detail-h.jpg\",\"width\":708,\"height\":378,\"caption\":\"Detail of Rachel D. 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