Time and again, I have seen how writing can be incredibly empowering. This winter, writing became one of the ways in which I was able to show care and love for my partner while he was going through the ordeal of open-heart surgery. One of the most comforting decisions we made was to write about his healing process on Caring Bridge. The writing was a lifeline for us — sharing broke up the isolation, exhaustion and anxiety that serious illness generates.

photo: Holly Troy