Strength In Weakness – a Column by Michelle Gonzaba

After struggling to identify the cause of her muscle weakness for almost a year, Michelle was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis in 2011. With her column, she hopes to help those with MG know they aren’t alone in their struggles and triumphs. Michelle lives in Texas and enjoys movies, TV, and awards season.

What to Look For in a Neurologist

When I was 6 years old, I had a pair of brown leather fisherman sandals I was obsessed with. I wore them with every outfit, regardless of the event or time of year. But by the time I turned 7, it was clear that I had outgrown them. This…

Why Is MG Such a Large Part of My Identity?

I wouldn’t describe myself as a nervous person. I’m plagued by anxiety, sure, but I’ve become pretty good at managing it. There is, however, a particular sentence that makes me break out into a sweat: “Tell me about yourself.” We’ve all heard this before, whether during a first date or…

Moving Forward Starts With Speaking Out

Normally, I don’t have a hard time talking about various subjects. I could spend hours discussing Academy Award nominees, arguing about why Slack is better than Microsoft Teams, or gossiping about the British monarchy. Speaking up isn’t the problem — it’s the subject matter that trips me up. When…

How Caring for a Houseplant Reminded Me of My MG Journey

Like many others in the past two years, I’ve become a first-time houseplant owner. After “extensive” research, which involved perhaps a couple Google searches, I bought a Calathea ornata, or pinstripe Calathea, a beautiful plant with thin, pink-striped leaves. I wish I could say I chose it for…

2022 Will Be the Year I Leave Fear Behind

New Year’s seems to hold a different meaning for everyone. Some see it as an opportunity to chug champagne, while others dedicate their time to brainstorming resolutions. I’ve never been very excited about the holiday. I’m not a big drinker, and have failed at too many resolutions…

How MG Changed My College Experience

As a young teenager, I had a very specific vision for my college years. I imagined nonstop parties, long nights spent studying in the library, and failed attempts at trying to use the washing machine. But I couldn’t have imagined how different my college experience would be. My first year…