Columns

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 to deal with an overwhelming or uncomfortable situation. My name, Retha, is derived from Margaretha, which…

Myasthenia gravis (MG) really enjoys hiding from other people. While a droopy eyelid is easy to observe, most of the other symptoms are not noticeable to outsiders. Weakness in the arms, legs, face, and other areas may only be detectable after someone with MG attempts to complete certain tasks.

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 act of moving. Although moving is a myasthenic’s nightmare, packing up my whole life again has…

When I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, I did what most people would do: I Googled my new rare disease and came to the instant conclusion that I would die within the next 48 hours. Dramatic, yes, but Google searches rarely lead to encouraging news. Before my diagnosis, I…

I am currently composing this column six hours out from my transsternal thymectomy. Five mishaps leading up to the surgery have gone wrong on the scheduling side, and then the COVID-19 office lost my test. I have been relatively happy leading up to this, but it seems everything…

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 gravis diagnosis has taught me anything, it’s to appreciate movement. Go for every run I can.

Some events in life are like a door hinge: They are so transformational that they cause you to swing entirely in a different direction. For example, years before I began dealing with the first symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG), I suffered the loss of my father. That was the first…

Snowflakes never meant much to me. As a kid, I would catch them in my mouth as they fell from the sky and cut their shapes out of construction paper. Now, after my myasthenia gravis (MG) diagnosis, I look at snowflakes with a newfound admiration and wonder. A miraculous…

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 specialist, so I took her word for it. The more I read about Type A personalities,…

If I asked 10 people to describe what being a “good friend” means, I would probably hear 10 different responses. But while these responses would be diverse, I’d guess that most would think a good friend needs to be empathetic. Throughout my life, I’ve tried to be as empathetic…