My First Rare Disease ConferenceRecently, I had the opportunity to attend a national conference for the rare disease that is narcolepsy. This conference had a plethora...reactions2comments
Reach for the Stars! Why Media Representation MattersRecently, I had the privilege of attending Portland Pride. The weekend was jam-packed with all sorts of events and parties celebrating the...reactions3comments
Rare Diseases and Preparing for an EmergencyMedical emergencies are certainly no fun, especially when a rare disease is in the mix. However, being prepared for a potential emergency...reactions2comments
What If I Hadn't Been Born With a Rare Disease?There's a Marvel Comics series called "What If...?" It offers mind-bending scenarios about what could have happened if one little thing was...reactionscomments
Navigating Life with a Rare Disease: An Accessibility StoryThe most consistently bothersome aspect of living with hemophilia is my left ankle. Due to both minor and, on rare occasions, major...reactions3comments
Rare Diseases, Disability, and Self-Identity: I Am More Than My ConditionI didn't always see myself as someone living with a rare disease. For years, I fought to hold onto the life I...reactions6comments
Xanadu I or Don't I? A Rare Disease Roller Skating OdysseyIn the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, my partner Gwenn and her friends decided to order roller skates and take a...reactions1comment
How I Get Through Tough DaysHumor plays a huge role in my life. I'm pretty open about having hemophilia A, and I rarely miss an opportunity to...reactionscomments
10 Things I Wish People Understood About Rare DiseasesBeing a caregiver to someone with a rare disease can be a complex journey. It not only alters the life of the...reactionscomments
5 More Practical Tips to Thrive After a Kidney TransplantIn part one, 5 Practical Tips to Thrive After a Kidney Transplant, I discussed the pertinent things that you need to keep...reactionscomments
Living for the Moment: Doing the Unexpected With Pompe DiseaseIt was 2018, and I turned 50 years old in March. The following month, we lost our oldest son to a brain...reactionscomments
Managing Stress and Chronic IllnessStress is one of those factors that can really impact our overall health. Stress can affect the body in many ways, with...reactionscomments
Why I Made My Home Wheelchair Accessible Sooner, Not Later"Why do you think you would need wheelchair-accessible doors in your home?" I answered simply that I was previously required to obtain...reactions3comments
Yoga Doesn't Cure My Autoimmune Diseases"Oh, you have XYZ disease? Have you tried yoga?" Wow, if I had a nickel for every time someone tossed this cookie-cutter...reactions12comments
Living With Congenital Adrenal HyperplasiaLiving with a genetic condition like congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) can pose unique challenges. But CAH does not have to define a...reactionscomments
How I Travel With a Chronic Illness"Still round the corner, there may wait, a new road or a secret gate." – J.R.R. Tolkien Living in a body with...reactionscomments
After a Rare Disease Diagnosis: My Avalanche of ComorbiditiesWhen I was diagnosed with my first rare disease, I got sicker. What? Of course not. Getting a diagnosis doesn't change how...reactions3comments
When We Medically Gaslight OurselvesWe're used to others medically gaslighting us – but what about when we do it to ourselves? In a previous article, I...reactionscomments
When We Are Eager to Undergo Medical TestsMedical tests are not enjoyable by any means but that doesn't mean one won't feel eager to have a medical test performed...reactionscomments
Journey to a Rare Disease DiagnosisGetting a new rare disease diagnosis can be a difficult undertaking. Some conditions, such as narcolepsy, are so misunderstood that it can...reactions26comments
