The Whispered Roar
— Shawna Barnes

For the first time in a long time, I was frustrated with care that I had received. I recently had to go to a hospital emergency room, where, unfortunately, I didn’t feel that I…

If you were given the gift of nine extra hours a week, what would you do? This was the situation my husband and caregiver, Justin, and I found ourselves in last week. In…

Stepping out of the phone booth, I put my glasses on and look around to make sure I’m not spotted. I look to the left and then to the right one more time before…

Are you seeing double? I was. And I still do if I push myself to a certain level of weariness. When I first experienced double vision, I thought that either my crappy vision was…

Q: What is myasthenia gravis (MG)? A: It’s a neuromuscular autoimmune disease. Q: What is a neuromuscular autoimmune disease? A: It’s when your immune system attacks the junction where nerve cells meet…

“A service-connected condition means an illness or injury that was caused by — or got worse because of — your active military service.” Did you know that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, also…

Love. It’s a four-letter word that can mean a hundred different things, depending on how and where it’s used. One of the things that sets my husband, Justin, and I apart from some…

It was 11:50 p.m. Wednesday night, and I was just getting ready to head up to bed after a long, frustrating day at the office. Meetings that ran late and frustrating tech issues…

Last week, I was asked to respond to “Tell me about yourself” as it related to my disabilities and the help I needed around the house. The request came during an intake meeting to have…

I live in a little community in northwestern Wisconsin that boasts fewer than 1,000 year-round residents. This fluctuates greatly during the winter and summer tourist seasons. I had concerns about living in…

Columnist Shawna Barnes discusses air hunger with MG, its causes, how it differs from other shortness of breath, and strategies for managing this symptom.

Would you, could you, on the floor? I could not, would not, on the floor. I will not do it before four. I will not do it in the chair. I simply cannot on…