SPIKE! is a storytelling card game for people living with chronic illness.
Playing helps patients feel seen, connect with peers, and share their anonymized stories with clinicians, medical students, and caregivers to improve care for millions with Long COVID, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and more living with complex illnesses.
Created by Patients for Patients.
Denise Brodey, M.S., a disability and inclusion author and journalist, designed the game as a graduate student at Harvard. While recovering from Long COVID (pacing has helped her manage work and school), she used narrative storytelling to process her illness, connect with peers, and, in some cases, help her family, friends, and doctors better understand her illness.
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"Unlike a conversation, research shows that storytelling games help people talk about tough subjects—how to manage brain fog, stigma, and family.
Telling a short anecdote about your life—even having a laugh about it with supportive peers—is a form of play. People are often surprised at what they say when they look at a card. That can be healing—and offer insights about what's on your mind.
Why A Card Game?
You can play the game almost anywhere—over Zoom or in person—with a support group or community health organization. The game is free, confidential, and facilitated to ensure your group has fun. It also doesn't take much brainpower to learn or play, so it works for people who have limited energy and need to pace to be sure they don't flare or save energy for other tasks.
** SPIKE is not a medical study or therapy. It is not affiliated with Harvard Medical School.
It's a facilitated card game designed to help patients with chronic illness feel seen and heard. **