On June 27, Jennifer Brea, #MEAction co-founder, filmmaker, TED Fellow, readied herself to speak in Banff, Canada at TEDSummit 2016. The process of preparing can be described as grueling for anyone, much less for someone with ME: Brea had spent weeks writing and fact-checking the talk with a committee from TED, and now had to keep her focus and concentration for sixteen minutes straight.

[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I realized on stage that it’s OK to let what is broken be broken. That it’s more important to be true.”[/pullquote]

“I began the day with a saline IV, thanks to a few angels, and pulled out every single trick I have just to get on that stage,” Brea posted on Canary in a Coal Mine‘s Facebook page. “I ran into a brick wall about five times during the talk when there was just nothing but blank – no words, no thoughts. But everyone stood and silently cheered and sent up love and support when I stumbled. And I made it! To the end! It was hard because the old me, the me that I was and still am, wants to nail it, wants everything to be flawless. And I realized on stage that it’s OK to let what is broken be broken. That it’s more important to be true.”

Brea used her own, personal experience with ME to shine a light on how illness is viewed, treated, and understood in our society.

Audience reactions show that Brea’s message and the message of the ME community was heard loud and clear.

@jenbrea rocked the #TEDSummit with a beautiful clear-eyed world changing talk. No doubt this will make waves pic.twitter.com/J3udUWd3mV — Julia Bacha (@juliabacha) June 27, 2016

Individuals tweeted their reactions and their favorite lines:

Just blown away by the courage and clarity of @jenbrea, who has ME. Fund this disease already!! #TEDSummit — Emma Marris (@Emma_Marris) June 27, 2016

.@jenbrea I heard a brave woman demonstrate the fragility & glory of life. The world needs to do more about M.E #TEDSummit — Meenakshi Menon (@MeenMenon) June 27, 2016

Our immune systems r the battleground just as much as other parts of our bodies, says @jenbrea at #TEDSummit Women still not taken seriously — ruthannharnisch (@ruthannharnisch) June 27, 2016

“45% of patients who are diagnosed with an autoimmune disease are initially told that they are hypochondriacs.” @jenbrea #TEDSummit — TED Talks (@TEDTalks) June 27, 2016

“Psychiatry has become the place where we shunt illnesses that we don’t yet understand.” – @jenbrea on myalgic encephalomyelitis #TEDSummit — TED Fellows (@TEDFellow) June 27, 2016

Jen’s talk emerged as one of the most memorable of the Summit:

One of the most moving TED Fellows talks I have ever witnessed. I’m legitimately crying. @jenbrea you are an inspiration. #TEDSummit — Sioban M. (@KingSio_) June 27, 2016

Jen Brea’s talk on Myologic Encephalomyelitis & her struggle for survival ranks one of my best talks at #TEDSummit —@jenbrea thnk u 4 sharin — Awab Alvi (@DrAwab) June 28, 2016

Members of the audience came up to Brea to congratulate her and express the sense of connection they felt to her narrative for the rest of the Summit. Brea tells the story of someone whose reality has been questioned, and whose life has gone suddenly, perhaps irretrievably, off-script. It is also the story of how she has turned this sea-change into a force for good.

And that is something a lot of people can relate to.

Read other articles about Jen’s TED talk he TED blog, the Park Record, and on Medium.

Jen Brea’s TED Talk will be released to the public this fall. Stay tuned for more information!

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