What myasthenia gravis taught me about being a business owner
The COVID-19 lockdowns had just started, and small businesses around the world were shuttering at an alarming rate. Many…
Articles by Shawna Barnes
My son speaks out on living with his mom’s myasthenia gravis
Last month, when my son, Caden Degen, turned 21, I celebrated it publicly by acknowledging my perspective on what…
The impact of ‘flare fear’ on my MG symptom management
I’ve lost 20 pounds in three months. Crazy, right? In previous columns, I discussed some of the “aha” moments I’d…
Why it’s important to celebrate the small wins with myasthenia gravis
Guess what I did last week? I took a shower standing up! Who cares, right? Well, I do. Because it…
Comparison is the thief of joy when you have myasthenia gravis
We all do it. There’s a reason we have the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses,” which everyone knows and…
Parenting with myasthenia gravis has been difficult yet rewarding
Shedding tears in frustration. Missing football games. Giving foot rubs and having heart-to-heart conversations. Being teased because I was in…
The day an accident changed our family caregiver dynamic
What do you do when you are awakened by your son telling you that a dead tree just fell on…
The things we learn while living with myasthenia gravis
So you have myasthenia gravis (MG). Some of your friends or family have distanced themselves from you. You take…
3 tips for traveling solo with myasthenia gravis
For the first time since my medical retirement from the U.S. Army in 2011, my myasthenia gravis (MG) is…
3 strategies to deal with people who don’t seem to care
The eye roll. The “I’m not listening but want you to think I am” head nod. The silence. The…