Columns

Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat when you travel? Before I got sick during my deployment to Iraq (2009-2010), I used to love to travel. I never had to give much thought to flying. I always went with the cheapest ticket or the best deal.

My twin brother, Aaron, has always been a fitness nut. When we were teenagers, he routinely invited his girlfriend at the time to come over and exercise with him. Exercise videos on VHS tapes were all the rage back then, so they’d perform intense aerobics in front of the TV…

Ahead of every family reunion, plan, and event, I fear saying the famous “I’m tired, I can’t” — not because of how it might affect me, but because of how others might react. Normally, I’d be “selfish” and preserve my energy, but in these moments, I feel like I’m in…

When I attended a college staffed by Augustinians, five theology courses were required for an undergraduate diploma. Those classes helped me develop a mature understanding of religion and spirituality. Back then, I couldn’t know that one day I’d find a valuable lesson in the work of the four Evangelists, other…

Inside every person we know is another part of them we don’t know anything about. As adults, we often hide our pain, either out of pride or to spare others from worrying. My twin brother, Aaron, was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) in 1999. But I didn’t realize until…

It’s been five years since I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), an autoimmune neuromuscular disease. MG makes me feel tired and short of breath, and sometimes I struggle to speak clearly. It feels like yesterday when I was diagnosed, and I believe I still need to know more…

In the Sept. 24 article “Y’all Vs. Ya’ll: Here’s How To Spell It” in Southern Living, the author Grace Haynes writes, “The South is known for its laundry list of unique, quirky, cultural sayings, like ‘Bless your heart,’ ‘Too big for his britches,’ and ‘Well, I s’wanee,’ to name…

It happened again. I received this comment, intended as a compliment, I think: “I don’t know how you do it.” It was made by a friend of mine who stopped by my business, The Nook, where I said I’d joined the board for a biathlon. I threw my name…

My fraternal twin brother, Aaron, who was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) 25 years ago, underwent surgery last week to correct his crossed eyes, or strabismus, and double vision. I’m glad to report that he’s recuperating at home, happy with the results and doing well. The operation was…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with prednisone. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Do you like roller coasters? I used to — until my life became an emotional roller coaster fueled by health challenges…