For more than 26 years, I avoided talking about myasthenia gravis (MG) with my twin, Aaron. We’re 50 now, and Aaron was in his mid-20s when he was diagnosed, and everything changed. He went from being an intense, exercise-loving, hard-working man to living with a condition that weakens his…
Me, My Brother, and MG — Allen Francis
Allen Francis is a New York City native, graduate from Marymount Manhattan College, and a former college advisor. He writes from his experience of having a twin brother, Aaron, who has been afflicted with myasthenia gravis (MG) since 1999. From his perspective of a loving sibling, Allen wants to learn more about MG and advocate for more awareness about the rare and medically unknown condition. Allen is also a lifelong comic book fan dedicated to launching his own company writing comic books with his twin.
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My twin brother’s eyes have begun to droop again. It happened during a period recently when I got locked out of my main social media account, and I was busy with work, so I wasn’t keeping in touch with Aaron as much as I usually do. Drooping eyes used to…
My twin brother, Aaron, took advantage of the recent winter blast in New York and went to the gym. With myasthenia gravis (MG), he finds that he has more energy in lower temperatures. Being out in public means having to sometimes deal with people at their worst.
Opportunities often arise when we least expect them, as the saying goes. My twin brother, Aaron, recently told me that the frigid weather in New York City has given him a chance to return to the gym. Aaron explained that his symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG) improve dramatically…
I live in Manila, Philippines, while my twin brother, Aaron, still calls our hometown of New York City home. Depending on daylight saving time, there is about a 12-hour time difference between us. When it’s morning or afternoon here in Manila, it’s early evening or late at night in New…
I was shocked when I learned recently that my twin brother, Aaron, had suddenly become lactose intolerant at age 50. He was diagnosed after becoming violently ill from adding cheese to a beef empanada. It was quite a blow to him. As New Yorkers, we grew up on milk and…
As I chatted recently with my twin brother, Aaron, on a video call, I noticed he was sipping a smoothie. This was very odd to me. Aaron is a serious fitness nut, and before he developed myasthenia gravis (MG), he was always exercising. But…
I noticed during my most recent video call with my twin brother, Aaron, that he was sorting through a pile of his old-school CDs and cassettes. I teased him about listening to outdated tech. “The cassette player died years ago,” he said. He was checking song titles to see if…
Note: This column describes the author’s brother’s experiences with Soliris. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I had promised to video call my twin brother, Aaron, as he received a Soliris (eculizumab) infusion, but I felt a…
I had just started a video call with my twin brother, Aaron. I live in Manila, Philippines, and he still resides in our hometown of New York City. It felt good to see him. I was pleased to see that the strabismus surgery he underwent to correct…
My twin brother, Aaron, and I are getting older and looking for ways to make our daily lives more convenient. I didn’t see him turning to an electric scrub brush to make washing dishes easier, however. I called him the other day and watched him using one, a small appliance…
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,…
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