Columns

This week, I turn 41. Some days, I’ll catch my reflection in the mirror and feel a deep sense of pride in the person looking back at me. I’ll see the strength I’ve built, the lessons I’ve learned, and the resilience that has carried me through these 41 years. Then…

Dr. Seuss once said, “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” That’s another way of saying you never know what you have until it’s gone, whether it’s a relationship, a material item, or a mindset (such as innocence). It’s nice to remember…

I often talk about strength and resilience because I feel a deep need to share these traits with others who are navigating chronic illnesses or invisible disabilities. Motivating and inspiring others is a blessing that gives my own struggles with myasthenia gravis (MG) a purpose. But let’s turn the…

Pride. This short noun has many definitions, depending on its use. I’ve found two primary meanings repeatedly in various memes and articles online: a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that…

Identity is how we define ourselves, and it can be established through nature or nurture, voluntarily or not. Part of our identity may even be shaped by the person we imagine ourselves to be or hope to become. A vocation, career, or profession can also be a mark of identity.

Some people think disabilities are just excuses and free-pass cards that come with countless advantages. After a recent experience, I’ve realized they might be right sometimes — but not in the way they think. Before you think I’m crazy, let me explain. I’m not talking about financial aid or priority…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with several medications, including Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Ecclesiastes 3:15 (KJV) reads in part, “That which hath been is now; and that which is to…

Author Tom Clancy once wrote, “Surviving is much more painful than death.” Realizing how much my twin brother, Aaron, has been surviving with myasthenia gravis (MG) since his diagnosis in 1999 when he was 24 is painful for me. He lives in New York…

Traveling was one of my biggest fears after my myasthenia gravis diagnosis in 2019. If I got tired at home easily, what would navigating an airport and exploring a bustling city feel like? A few years ago, when my father suggested my sister and I visit a European country…

Published in 1759, Voltaire’s satirical novella “Candide” follows the adventures of its protagonist as he travels the world. Along the way, Candide encounters the suffering, misfortune, and ambiguity that is characteristic of human life. A college philosophy course was my introduction to this masterpiece. I can visualize myself walking across…