November 2025
Hello and welcome to November’s newsletter. Hope you have had the best month possible.
Smiles
10 Smiles were sent to both ME sufferers and carers of all ages this month. All chosen and personalised to fit each person’s likes and interests. Some of the items sent this month included gardening tools, gardening seeds, music box, craft sets, nail polish, face masks, lip balm, blankets, scarf, mug, mouse mat, fishing tools, notebooks, book, socks, snacks and sweets. 
Special touch
In our Smiles we include a token item donated by someone affected by ME as a special touch from our community. Included in the Smiles sent this month was a handmade crochet heart by Crafting A Path Through Illness. Thank you Germaine for your kind support. 
“Thank you so so much. I can’t begin to explain what this means to me. I am sobbing right now. These last few weeks have been so so difficult. I have been very unwell and struggling. Lots is changing in my life at the moment and to receive this today was just so lovely. Thank you so so much. It just felt like someone was reaching out and hugging me.”
“I received a “smile” this month and it was a fantastic treat to receive such gorgeous gifts, so personally spot on, as if you knew me! But it was so so so much more than the goodies inside! My “smile” arrived on a bad day, from a week of recovering from PEM. When I am struggling with my symptoms, like I was that day, questioning my self worth creeps in, and as you know our condition makes you wonder if anyone around you really understands what someone with ME goes through every day. Then out of nowhere… a little knock at the door….. there was your parcel. I sat down to open it, looked at the beautifully wrapped gifts, opened the little card, didn’t open anything else yet but I cried (for about 10 mins) Happy tears, reassured tears, feeling loved tears, feeling understood tears, feeling that I wasn’t alone tears. Thank you from the bottom of my heart xxx Like that day, I haven’t been able to get dressed today but I am currently wearing my adorable pink heart fluffy socks that you sent me and I still have those feelings of love, care and understanding when I look down at them. Thank you for caring, for being such an amazing charity and for my Smile xx”
“Thank you so much for my smile it made my day xx”
“Thankyou Smile for ME for my smile. I’m just a brother trying to help my sister as much as I can on the good days and bad. Going to the Allotment when I can is my way to unwind and all these gifts are fantastic and will be used. We all will enjoy the vegetables and things in the seed kit. So once again thankyou so much.”
“Thank you so much for my amazing box of goodies! You can tell just how much care and time went into putting this together and it really did give me a much needed boost. Whether it’s those struggling with ME or their carers, what you do really makes such a difference to people impacted by this truly awful disease and it certainly put a smile on my face! Thank you!”
“Thank you so much for Lily’s gifts, she loved them!xx”
“Hello sorry for the delay in responding, it’s not the best picture but Hannah was so excited to have received a package and couldn’t wait to get home to open it. It arrived on a college day and couldn’t have come at a better time, she has been struggling returning this term with keeping up with her classes alongside her condition so has been feeling pretty sad, this brightened her day, the socks went straight on when we got home! Thank you for giving her a moment of brightness in what was a challenging week. thank you from me for giving Hannah a lovely gift and thinking of her, our children seem to be invisible and misunderstood. It can be very lonely for them, feeling isolated from normal routes of growing up, missing out on so much, again thank you, it was very emotional to think that you care.”
Support us
Are you holiday shopping? Why not support us at the same time through Easy Fundraising. Use when you shop and we receive a donation at no extra cost to you. 
Thank you to those who support us through Easy Fundraising. Over the years we have received over £1,600 in donations so all the small amounts really do add up and make a difference to us.
Share a story
This month’s share a story is by Pam. Thank you Pam for sharing your experience in a piece titled My Story with M.E.
I was first diagnosed with M.E. in 2007 after a viral illness and three traumatic bereavements. I also had several chest infections and food poisoning. I had to leave my job as a nurse and instead worked part-time in an after-school club. Over several years I slowly improved with lifestyle changes and complementary therapies. I was able to enjoy holidays, re-start piano lessons, sing in a choir and attend art and yoga classes. I really loved walking our dog.
In 2015, my health declined again. I was diagnosed with an ectopic parathyroid adenoma that caused osteoporosis. After a failed operation, I found a specialist in London who successfully removed the tumour, but the whole experience was extremely stressful.
Following the second surgery in 2018 I became severely fatigued with dysautonomia and multiple debilitating symptoms. I was largely bed- or sofa-bound, anxious and very depressed. At my lowest point, I couldn’t tolerate TV or even look at my phone for more than a few minutes. I couldn’t socialise at all or even go outside. Local fatigue and mental health services couldn’t provide the level of support I needed, which was devastating and frightening. My GP prescribed various medications for depression and anxiety, but this only worsened my physical symptoms.
I started private therapy, where I began to understand how long-standing nervous system dysregulation had affected my health. l learnt that as a highly sensitive person and also a people pleaser I had not looked after my own needs. Since 2018 I’ve worked with functional medicine practitioners and nutritionists. We have had to pay for everything. Long standing digestive issues have contributed to my ill health.
It has been very hard missing out on life, especially not being able to walk our dog and not being able to help with my 4 granddaughters. It has also been very challenging for my husband who shops, cooks and supports me. A lot of the time I felt invisible and there was a lack of understanding of my condition by a lot of people including health professionals.
Despite losing many friends, I’ve had a lovely carer and I’ve found good support within the online M.E. community. I’ve made a few really good friends with M.E. through these groups. I have a supportive, loving family and my poodle, Willow, who is a very special companion for us.
What Helps Me
Yoga Nidra, gentle movement and breathing exercises.
Therapy, journalling, Emotional Freedom Technique and vagus nerve exercises.
Creativity such as writing and illustrating books for my grandchildren.
Music (sharing tracks with a friend and playing piano for short periods).
Practising self-compassion.
Taking small steps forward.
Talking with people who really listen. It’s good when people take an interest in me. It is helpful when people can acknowledge my difficulties while also engaging in broader conversation.
Small acts of kindness. Kind words and messages. Checking in with me.
Cuddles — especially with Willow, Piya (our son’s dog) and my grandchildren.
Moving Forward
Progress is very slow, but it is happening. I continue with nutritional therapy, yoga nidra, breathing practices, and emotional regulation. Creativity brings me joy. I am able to visit my son’s house briefly and go on short outings in the car.
The combination of both severe M.E. and depression has been traumatic, challenging and isolating but there are moments of light. With the love of family, the comfort of Willow, and small daily steps forward, I hope that I can continue to improve.
The Smile for M.E. gifts and handwritten card really helped me to feel seen and acknowledged. It was such a wonderful surprise.
Smile of the month
What’s made you smile this month? Each month we ask this question on social media and we love hearing the responses. We hope by sharing some of your smiles it can help others to find a smile too.
Thank you’s
Thank you to everyone who has supported us this month. We are so grateful for the kindness and generosity you show us. It means such a lot because it enables us to continue sending Smiles to those affected by ME.
A special thank you to WBR Group Limited for your kind donation. We are really appreciative of your support.