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
Finally Diagnosed... Now What?A rare disease is one that affects less than 200,000 people. Rare conditions are hard to diagnose because not much is known...reactionscomments
When a Low Probability Feels ScaryI’m no stranger to autoimmune conditions. Let's take a look: I am among the roughly 1% of the population that has celiac...reactions1comment
New Year’s Resolutions and Rare DiseasesI'm not a fan of New Year's resolutions. I'm sure many of us have seen or done this before – we make...reactionscomments
The Weight of Rare Disease GiveawayThe Weight of Rare Disease Giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your interest! Living with a rare disease comes with daily...reactionscomments
Glasses as a Form of Unique Expression With Rare DiseaseLast week, I made the familiar journey from optometrist to optician, getting a new glasses prescription and ordering new frames. I have...reactions2comments
Shining a Light on Rare DiseasesAs a young mom raising a child with a rare disease, I've learned that feeling pressure from uncertainty and heartache is normal...reactionscomments
Grief and Reimagining Advocacy GoalsLife with a rare disease can be unpredictable, and the mental health toll can be significant as we often grapple with loss...reactions3comments
Changing Scarcity Mindset to a Growth Mindset With Rare DiseaseI have been learning more about scarcity mindset, and it got me thinking about how common and easy it is to fall...reactions2comments
How Therapies Treated My Musculoskeletal Injuries from Rare DiseaseDue to short bowel syndrome (SBS), I've endured years of malnutrition, and even the years I've been well-nourished, I still have nutrient...reactions1comment
Role Reversal and the Patient-Caregiver RelationshipI have been a rare disease patient since my first rare disease diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyposis at age 8. My mother...reactionscomments
Developing Elevator Pitches for Rare Disease AdvocacyMost of us are familiar with the term "elevator pitch." An elevator pitch is sharing one's story with another person and requesting...reactionscomments
Tips for How to Set Boundaries With OthersMore likely than not, if you're reading this, then you've likely experienced someone crossing your boundaries as a chronic illness/rare disease patient...reactions11comments
Living With X-linked HypophosphatemiaX-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare genetic condition that lasts a person’s entire life. It is caused by a mutation in the...reactionscomments
Starting a Family When You Have Congenital Adrenal HyperplasiaCongenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a genetic condition that can affect people of any sex. This is a rare condition that can...reactionscomments
Calling Out with GraceI try to approach life by considering others' perspectives, not just mine. Sometimes, though, I fail at this. As a rare disease...reactions5comments
How to Deal With Letdowns in Your Awareness EffortsAs I shared in a previous article, rare disease advocacy can include writing and requesting proclamations. Proclamations can be made by organizations...reactionscomments
