Creating Business Cards for Rare Disease AdvocacyThink back to any time you shared about your rare disease with someone. Perhaps it was with a stranger, and it was just in passing. Perhaps it was...reactionscomments
Into the Unknown With My Rare DiseaseI had a dream (or was it a nightmare?) last night about my disease symptoms increasing rapidly. I woke up blurry-eyed, slightly...reactionscomments
3 Ways You Can Help a Rare Disease CaregiverI am not going to lie and say that being a rare disease parent is easy. It is often a challenge for...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
Reflecting on My 20th Anniversary With My Rare DiseaseMy life was upended because of a viral infection 20 years ago. In the fall of 2003, I was working in a...reactionscomments
From One Caregiver to Another: What I Learned After My Child's Diagnosis"You are not alone." These are the 4 most common words I choose to tell another caregiver. I know how heavy it...reactionscomments
Lessons Learned in Navigating Medical DebtWith any medical event, but especially when it's a chronic illness or rare disease, medical debt can easily build up. Depending on...reactions1comment
Caring for Hudson: Q&A With a Parent Managing Hypotonic Cerebral PalsyThe best thing that has come out of being part of the rare disease community is the passionate, loving, and optimistic people...reactionscomments
How Nature Therapy Helps Me Live Better With a Rare DiseaseAccess to lush, green natural spaces feels like a privilege to me. As a person living with a rare disease, narcolepsy, it...reactionscomments
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
Being the Change: How My Advocacy StartedI remember the day the genetic counselor called me with my son's diagnosis. She gave me information about a paper published on...reactionscomments
4 Tips for Communicating With Loved OnesIt can be so hard for people outside of the rare disease community to truly understand what we go through – ongoing...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
Community Views: The Biggest Misconception About My Rare DiseaseHaving a rare disease poses problems many people can not imagine. It can be discouraging to share your experiences when others do...reactionscomments
A Guide to Awareness Proclamations: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?Let’s talk about awareness proclamations. It’s likely fair to say that most of us have seen an awareness proclamation announcement by a...reactionscomments
Finding Joy While Raising a Child With a Rare DiseaseIt's hard to remember what my life was like before having a child with a rare disease. I became the caregiver of...reactions2comments
Are Forums Still Relevant in the Social Media Age?One of the most exciting parts of the advent of the internet was the ability to quickly communicate with others from around...reactionscomments
Rare Disease and Food Insecurity Have you ever been so affected by your rare disease that you weren't able to go grocery shopping, leaving your pantry empty...reactionscomments
Inspirational, Courageous Me?!Someone told me today that I was an inspiration. It's not the first time. In 2010, when I had the immense luck...reactionscomments
No Family Is the Same: A Caregiving Parent Perspective on DivorceAs a young child, I was surrounded by the most amazing family. There were family gatherings, family vacations, and memories. And then...reactionscomments