When Marisa Zeppieri was 22-years-old she found herself face-to-face with a raven-haired elderly woman who had emerged from a crowd and gently taken her hands: "God will use these hands to change people's lives."Years later Marisa's once-spirited demeanor was shrouded in anger and bitterness. Triggered first by a near-fatal car accident that sent her 100-lb body flying from a crosswalk and later by a painful Lupus diagnosis, she became stuck in a season of brokenness.But in the seasons that followed, an insatiable emotional, spiritual, and physical hunger took over: She learned how to nourish her broken body with the help of food, herbs, and a gastronomically-gifted Italian grandmother, while also nourishing her broken heart and crushed spirit through a deeper relationship with God.With Chronically Fabulous, Marisa fulfills the old woman's prophecy by offering pure nourishment to those of us living with chronic illness, helping us create wholeness and well-being through a love of food. Here, the founder of LupusChick, a nonprofit supporting those with autoimmune diseases, offers guiding principles, personal stories, and recipes that support whole-life thriving. With the depth, smarts, and spiritual advice beloved by her dedicated followers, Marisa shows us how faith, passion, and persistence can radically change our lives.
Marisa Zeppieri is a health and food journalist, speaker on autoimmune disease, former Mrs. New York, and the founder of LupusChick.com, a nonprofit for people with lupus and other autoimmune conditions. She writes and speaks about thriving despite chronic illness and is the weekly series host for The Lupus Foundation of New England's online lupus program. For her advocacy within the autoimmune community, she has been featured in Healthline, U.S. News, Glamour, Eating Well, Ladies Home Journal, WebMD, among others, and her work is highlighted in Lady Gaga's Channel Kindness anthology. Zeppieri lives in Rochester, NY.
Chapter 1: Wrong Place, Wrong Time Chapter 2: A Heaping Serving of Love Chapter 3: Hey, God...Are You There? Chapter 4: A Lesson in Silence Chapter 5: Timelines and Triggers Chapter 7: Seasons of Recalibration Chapter 8: Our Uniquely Designed Purpose Chapter 9: A Fortress of True Friends Chapter 10: Flares, Frankfurters, and other Catastrophes Chapter 11: My Kitchen, My War Room Chapter 12: Speak All of Your Truth Chapter 13: Made Whole
"The journey of those battling chronic illness can be a lonely one. Marisa Zeppieri's Chronically Fabulous gives hope to those suffering silently and reveals that there is a community of people who do understand." --Kazy Tauginas, actor, writer, producer, and president of New Lease Films "Marisa Zeppieri offers us all an honest perspective of the challenges brought on by the reality of a chronic illness and using one's voice and courage to fight through the disease and build a new life. It is fabulous!" --Magdalena Cadet, MD, clinical rheumatologist, educator, and speaker "Marisa Zeppieri shares her heart-wrenching and uplifting story in a uniquely delightful book, with the bonus of flavorful recipes." --Amanda Greene, LA Lupus Lady "Marisa Zeppieri's personal story will grip you, her medical and nutritional advice will nurture you, and her heart will change you forever." --Tudor Dixon, news anchor for America's Voice News "Marisa Zeppieri is a masterful storyteller who brings to life the experience of finding your footing and finding your family within the journey to a healthier you." --Caroline Pavis, senior communications director, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson "Captivating and healing for anyone who is struggling emotionally or physically. Marisa Zeppieri touches your heart and soul and motivates you to trust that life has a purpose." --Beverly Goodell, director of The Lupus Foundation of New England
