Together - a Column by Mark Harrington

Life with an invisible illness can still be fun

I’m not the first guy to discover that myasthenia gravis (MG) deserves membership in the select group known as invisible illnesses. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the impact that life with such an illness has on a person’s emotional health. I don’t want to end up in a dismal spot.

Myasthenia gravis requires us to play the long game

It wasn’t my intention to write a column about exhaustion, fatigue, and the part they play in my life with myasthenia gravis (MG). But here’s what happened. I woke up yesterday and went about my usual routine. I ate breakfast, showered, shaved, and dressed. Then I sat at my…

Finding humor in life with myasthenia gravis

In the years since my myasthenia gravis (MG) diagnosis, I’ve learned to live with certain remarks that, though well-intended, can be hurtful. In conversations with other MG patients, I’ve heard about experiences like mine. No matter what we do — buying groceries, tying our shoes, breathing — someone is…

Even with myasthenia gravis, all shall be well

Julian of Norwich’s “Revelations of Divine Love” — which she’d originally recorded in 1373 — was first published in 1670. Still in print, this classic of Christian mysticism has influenced unknowable numbers of readers, myself included. I’d like to share how this book has affected my personal philosophy and…

Living with MG can feel isolating at times, but we’re not alone

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…

Myasthenia gravis brings into focus what is essential in our lives

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…