Strength In Weakness – a Column by Michelle Gonzaba

For most of my life, I’ve been wary of meditation, which involves various mind exercises that help to build happiness and shrink stress. Perhaps I could blame my negative attitude about meditation on other factors, such as how it’s portrayed on TV. In reality, I never took the time…

When I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), it took me a few months to accept that my body would never be the same again. It took even longer to understand what that really meant. I went through stages of denial, anger, sadness, and every other negative feeling…

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.

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…

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…

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…

When I discuss myasthenia gravis with new acquaintances, I usually get shocked faces and confused looks. I don’t blame them — MG isn’t exactly one of the most well-known rare diseases. I would even say it’s the Jan Brady of rare diseases: It’s always been there, but no one…

Exercise and I have never been the best of friends. I would make a commitment to work out more, which included buying new sneakers, workout gear, and equipment that I absolutely did not need. And what did I do with all of these new purchases? I completed four…

Unlike most people, I’m torn between loving and disliking the summer months. On one hand, as a teacher, I enjoy the time off. On the other hand, temperatures in my home state of Texas are almost unbearable.  But my favorite thing…

I’ve always been a bit of a loner. Even before I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), I tended to keep to myself. As I stated in a previous column, privacy has always been important to me. We could dive…