I try to be honest about my shortcomings, but I have always struggled with asking for help. If you frequent my column, you may have realized that I’ve been missing in action. I was…
Life with chronic illness is a constant game of comparison. I either compare myself with my healthy peers, or with other medically complex young people. Recently, I’ve found someone new to compare myself with:…
Pain is a big part of my life. I have been in daily pain for the last 10 years. The only medical reason I have for it is myasthenia gravis (MG). I highly value…
I started working as a speech therapist at a large academic hospital in January 2020. I was excited to start, and my passion for the job was coming out of my ears. But lurking…
Shortly after I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), the neurologist suggested I have a contrast CT scan of my chest. This would determine whether or not a thymectomy was necessary. My only…
I tend to laugh a lot, which can serve many different functions. A nervous giggle can indicate anxiety, a belly laugh may follow a moment of hilarity, and sometimes laughing is the only way…
My boyfriend, Tom, and I are finally moving back in together after 15 months of being in a long-distance relationship. While that in itself is amazing, it involves one terrible part: the physical…
Time has been my greatest teacher. She has taught me patience, resilience, and true commitment. She has taught me so many things I would love to share with my younger self. If my myasthenia…
During a consultation with my psychiatrist, she told me I have a Type A personality. “Me?!” I thought. That can’t be right. However, I have tremendous respect for her as a medical…
I often write about the beauty of life by sharing lessons I’ve learned from living with myasthenia gravis (MG). I tend to be optimistic in my approach to the hand life dealt…
It’s difficult to explain to a 20-something in perfect health why raising rare disease awareness is important. However, I had just turned 20 when my entire life was turned upside down by a…
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