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Living with myasthenia gravis (MG) has taught me that words are as important as medicine. The language we use to describe illness can shape how others perceive us and how we view ourselves. Doctors have a vocabulary developed through years of education and experience, while our loved ones…

As I enter my 50s, I find myself living alone as an expatriate in Asia, and I constantly worry about accidentally injuring myself. I’m particularly concerned about slipping and falling. I’ve realized that as we age, it’s essential to prioritize safety. Recently, I had a conversation with my twin brother,…

I went through a long phase in which I proudly followed a minimalist lifestyle. I was totally against gadgets, especially the small ones that seem unnecessary. Garlic crushers in the kitchen? Useless. Those mini massage tools advertised all over social media? Just clutter, or so I thought.

Six years ago, before my myasthenia gravis (MG) diagnosis, I decided that I wanted to be more focused and intentional. To assist with this, I bought an app for my Apple Watch that reminds me every two hours to pause and spend a minute focusing on my breath. During…

Many companions accompany us on life’s journey, but perhaps the most constant of these is uncertainty. None of us knows what curveballs may come our way from one day to the next. Most people can relegate thoughts of curveballs to a dim recess in their minds, but those of us…

Living with myasthenia gravis (MG) means I’ve spent more time in hospitals and clinics than I ever imagined I would. Most of the healthcare providers I’ve met have been kind, compassionate, and respectful. They’ve held my hand through scary procedures, explained complicated medical jargon in ways I could understand,…

On April 14, 1912, shortly before midnight, the Titanic struck an iceberg that would sink the ship and bring more than 1,500 people down to watery graves. Decades later, on Dec. 28, 1978, United Airlines Flight 173 circled in the sky south of Portland International Airport…

The first recommendation anyone gives you when you’re diagnosed with a chronic illness is always the same: rest. And for the past five years, I fully believed it. I told myself, and everyone else, that rest was the key to managing myasthenia gravis (MG). I built a life around…

I don’t enjoy going outside now as much as I did in my youth. I’m a homebody and I like it. This transition made me think of my twin, Aaron, who has myasthenia gravis (MG). Before MG, Aaron was a manual laborer who was very sociable and…

I haven’t had a disease flare-up recently or a full physical and mental breakdown. Still, this year has been a roller coaster for me. Each month seems to follow a rhythm: For one week I’ll feel almost healthy, for two weeks I’ll feel extremely disabled, and then for another week…