Abstract A brief summary: Failing to Thrive: Coping with a Chronic Childhood Illness consists of seven personal essays about my experience with being diagnosed with Gastroparesis at a young age. Each essay explores different challenges and internal struggles that occur due to childhood illness, like feelings of isolation, loneliness, confusion, and fear. The manuscript depicts my life before, during, and after the diagnosis, and shows the evolution of the illness over time as it impacted me...