{"id":513392,"date":"2026-04-05T00:38:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T00:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/513392\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T00:38:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T00:38:16","slug":"friends-who-met-through-their-hidden-disabilities-create-group-for-people-with-chronic-illnesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/513392\/","title":{"rendered":"Friends who met through their hidden disabilities create group for people with chronic illnesses"},"content":{"rendered":"

“I knew nobody going through something like me. When I found that connection it was a weight off my shoulders, knowing I wasn’t in it alone”<\/p>\n

Two friends who bonded over their shared battles with chronic illnesses have offered a supportive hand to others struggling to get by in a fast-paced and often hostile world. Ellie Thistlewaite, from Old Swan, and Tayla Freeman, from St Helens<\/a>, faced significant set-backs due to their hidden disabilities.<\/p>\n

Tayla lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a life-long condition which spiralled in her adult years, <\/a>causing extreme fatigue and pain which left her bedbound. Ellie meanwhile was born with spina bifida, caused when a baby’s spine and spinal cord do not develop properly, resulting in a lifetime of hospital appointments and operations.<\/p>\n

The pair, both aged 23, met on TikTok after sharing videos about their struggles. After meeting in person, they were inspired to start the Healing Hive<\/a>, providing holistic and accessible social events for young adults with chronic illnesses.<\/p>\n

Ellie said: “I was born with my condition. I had surgery the day I was born and have had surgeries all through my life. I always felt different. I was the only one of my friends with anything wrong with me.<\/p>\n

“As a child I was always saying I was fine and I could do it, and the older I got the more it affected me and the more I felt that no one understood. I wanted that community of people who really understood what it felt like, and that’s how I met Tayla.”<\/p>\n

\"Ellie<\/p>\n

Ellie Thistlewaite(Image: The Healing Hive)<\/p>\n

They began the Healing Hive in June last year. The group holds regular events specifically for people with chronic illnesses, such as accessible yoga and pilates, arts and crafts, and socials around Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Tayla said: “We aim to create a supportive space where people in similar situations, battling chronic illness, can come together and be understood in those normal day-to-day scenarios where you might feel out of place.<\/p>\n

“From my own lived experience, living with people my own age and watching everybody partying and living their lives, I knew nobody going through something like me. When I met Ellie and found that connection it was so amazing and a weight off my shoulders, knowing I wasn’t in it alone. We wanted to create that for other people.<\/p>\n

“It’s so important. The lows I reached and the loneliness you go through watching everybody else meet the milestones of graduating, starting careers, and travelling while you live in your own isolated world of knowing that’s what you want to do too, but you can’t.<\/p>\n

“Knowing there are others like you was a huge weight off my shoulders. It’s like now I’ve found peace in the journey I’m on. Having that community makes a massive difference.<\/p>\n

“We normally sell out every event, which shows the demand there is for this sort of thing. Our very first Healing Hive event had 50 places and within a week it was sold out.<\/p>\n

“We get a lot of people nervous and apprehensive, but in the first five minutes you see everybody connecting and there’s already that comfort, people just settling in straight away.”<\/p>\n

\"Tayla<\/p>\n

Tayla Freeman hoped to do a Masters at Liverpool University before her condition worsened(Image: The Healing Hive)<\/p>\n

Ellie said: “The response has been bigger than we ever thought. We’ve had so many people come to us. A lot of our sessions are run by people with their own businesses who offer up their time for free.<\/p>\n

“The people we have met with chronic illnesses and disabilities all have different stories and something to share. People are always coming to us with their ideas.”<\/p>\n

\"Ellie<\/p>\n

Ellie has undergone multiple operations due to spina bifida, caused when the spine and spinal cord do not develop properly(Image: The Healing Hive)<\/p>\n

The two continue to organise events despite their own struggles, as Ellie added: “We have had struggles with finding the balance of moving the community forward and prioritising our health, but we have been very open about it.<\/p>\n

“Back in July I had spine surgery, so I was in Walton<\/a> for two weeks and completely uncontactable, but everyone was so understanding. Tayla can’t run it all alone but when we work together we can balance it out.<\/p>\n

“Because it’s run by people with chronic illnesses and disabilities we can be open about it, and so everybody else can be open. Because we are honest about these things, everyone else feels able to open up.”<\/p>\n