Montana Tech alumna releases first book on facing chronic illness
When Baylie Phillips (B.S. Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, ’23, M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, ’24) was an undergraduate and graduate student at Montana Technological University, she was one of the golden scholars on campus. She won prestigious awards including the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) from the ARCS Foundation Seattle Chapter, several other state and local accolades, and was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. She was a leader in the community, volunteering in numerous ways in Butte and at Montana Tech, and was a researcher on the rise.
Very few people knew the pain and sometimes life-threatening challenges she faced behind the scenes. On April 26, Phillips released her first book, HOPE: Hope Overcomes Pain Everytime: A Short Memoir of a Girl With 14 Disorders, that details her experiences. It soared to #1 in Amazon’s “Dreams” category.
“I started writing my book two years ago after I was diagnosed with my 10th, yes 10th, illness,” Phillips said. “To hit double digits on medical conditions was a devastating moment for me. I had just graduated with my Bachelor of Science from Montana Tech. I was achieving all these big state, collegiate, and national awards while secretly battling some of the rarest medical conditions in medicine.”
On April 16, 2025 Phillips underwent surgery and experienced life-threatening hemorrhaging and a blood clot in her kidney, and she decided to finalize and publish the book.
“I think the biggest takeaway from my story is that no one should have to face chronic illness—or any challenge—alone,” she said. “If HOPE does anything, I hope it brings people together, creates a sense of shared experience, and reminds everyone that they are stronger than they think. It’s okay to lean on others, to share your pain, and to seek support when you need it. We are all in this together.”
She hopes her story will make an impact on others.
“My goal in writing HOPE was to raise awareness for chronic illness and invisible disabilities, and to provide a source of strength for those who are suffering from any sort of illness,” Phillips said. “I wanted to show that living with chronic illness doesn’t make you any less capable of living a meaningful life. HOPE is not just about surviving; it’s about finding purpose, resilience, and connection — even in the face of immense pain. HOPE is about more than chronic illness. It’s about finding resilience in the face of adversity, no matter what form that takes. Whether you’re dealing with personal challenges, loss, or self-doubt, this book offers lessons in strength, perseverance, and hope. Everyone faces personal challenges in life, and HOPE is a story about finding the strength to keep moving forward. Additionally, HOPE offers a unique opportunity to understand what those with chronic illness experience throughout their life and daily. It's a chance for them to step into someone else's shoes to give them the knowledge on how to work with those with chronic illnesses. Through my book, I wanted to offer readers a sense of community, support, and empowerment.”
In addition to confronting her pain and vulnerability, Phillips said it was challenging to release the hidden part of her life that she had kept out of the public eye for so long.
“I almost felt like an impostor in my own skin as I was writing,” she said. “Everyone knew me as this high-achieving academic, while I knew myself as the girl with 14 medical conditions, and allowing these two to merge with HOPE was difficult. I had to relive moments that were both physically and emotionally exhausting. Yet, I knew it was necessary to give an honest account of what it’s really like to live with these conditions.”
Readers have already started giving Phillips feedback on the book.
“The most rewarding part was hearing from readers who found comfort in my story,” Phillips said. “When someone tells me that they felt seen or understood, or that my words helped them feel less alone in their struggles, it makes everything worth it. Knowing that the book is providing a sense of hope and connection to others who have faced similar battles is the greatest reward.”
Phillips has three more books planned for release between now and November. In June she plans to release a 365- day journal prompt book to guide sick individuals help (?) to cope and heal with their illness over a year. Copyright processing and editorial review is underway for another book to be released through Amazon in July or August.
“This book is a chronic illness guide, not just for those with chronic illness, but for loved ones who have a family member or friend who has a chronic illness,” Phillips said. “If you have ever felt invisible inside your suffering, if you have ever loved someone and wondered how to stay when the road turns dark for them, if you need to know you are still seen, still worthy, still becoming, this book will be for you.”
The third book, a collection of poems and quotes about chronic illness, chronic pain, loving someone sick, living while feeling like you are dying, and other topics, will be released through Amazon in November.
You can purchase the book here.