My Bitter & Best Friend: MG — Sarah Bendiff

Before I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) in 2019, my symptoms led me to think that my body was lacking vitamins and nutrients. After my diagnosis, I blamed my weight gain on MG, even though hormones played a big role, too. I’ve tried several diets over the years,…

Last year, when I started a new job, I was asked to create funny, educational videos. The first topic I tackled was “Celebrities You Didn’t Know Have an Invisible Disability.” And right there, I had this strange realization: I hadn’t been drawn to a…

I was never really a sports fan, and there weren’t many other cultural activities around where I lived. But as I got older, I soon found my passion: shopping. I know, I sound like a high schooler, but in my head, I still am! Don’t judge! From when I was…

This column is a letter to my 9-year-old self. I’m choosing this age because I was lost then — and not only because of my disease. It was my last year of primary school and the point at which my life shifted from that of a child to that of…

There’s been much excitement lately around artificial intelligence (AI) — especially since generative AI became widely accessible. What used to be a complex, almost unreachable tool is now part of daily conversations, transforming the way we work, learn, and live. It brings a mix of emotions: optimism that it could…

I recently made peace with the fact that we almost always judge the book by its cover. It’s just what humans do. We believe what we see. And having a disease that’s not always visible has been the biggest challenge of my life. I often look just tired enough to…

By the end of each month, I always find myself asking: Where does my money go? I work as a freelancer in the digital marketing field, and I also teach courses in the same area. It’s a pretty lucrative activity these days, especially as digital work continues to expand. But…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with various alternative therapies. Not everyone will have the same response to these methods. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. During a myasthenia gravis flare-up in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, I completely lost the ability to…

I discovered my love of cooking when I was 12. While I enjoyed every part of my learning journey, my mom didn’t fully trust me in her kitchen, so I didn’t get to cook very often. I still live with her, so cooking for me is a rare occasion, which…

Seventeen years of living with myasthenia gravis (MG) has made me a pro at navigating daily life. I’ve learned how to handle both routine tasks and high-pressure days because being sick doesn’t mean I get to sit out on life. Over the years, I’ve worked on big projects, organized…

When I was a kid, I had a list of things I wanted to do when, as the adults used to say, I’m “old enough.” I haven’t forgotten that list, because now I am old enough. At 26, I’m still young, but I’m an adult, and plus, I have my…

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world fast from dawn until sunset, meaning no food or drink for anywhere between eight and 12 hours, depending on the region. It’s the holiest month in the Islamic calendar — a time for dedication, reflection, and sharing. But what does…