Stories from People Living with Chronic Illness

This panel brings together people living with chronic illness to share their lived experiences of navigating a world that often overlooks those who are both childless or childfree and chronically ill. 

Through honest conversation, the panellists will explore how chronic illness has influenced — or determined — their paths to non-parenthood, as well as the specific challenges of managing health, identity, and expectations as a non-parent in a society that often equates adulthood with caregiving and productivity. 

This session does not offer cures, fixes, or wellness tips. Instead, it holds space for real stories — including grief, adaptation, agency, and resilience — and invites us all to consider what inclusion and understanding truly look like. 

The final panel line will follow. We are working to seek a wide range of voices for every event at the festival. 

This event is for people who are Childless and Childfree and their supporters. 

This event may feature strong language, mention of abortion, trauma, pregnancy, miscarriage, and suicidal ideation. Please look out for yourself and others and please remember you can come and go from any event.

If you have any access needs for example noise sensitivity, mobility or if there is any other support you need, please add yourself to the access register here. We will get in touch with you before the event to chat about we can support you to have the best experience of the discussions group events