The importance of patience on the MG journey
I’ve always considered myself a patient man. One doesn’t succeed as a teacher without some degree of the trait. But the past four weeks have shown me that life with myasthenia gravis (…
Together — Mark Harrington
A Boston native, Mark has spent 25 years on the faculty of the Dallas Independent School District. A believer that what Hanna Arendt termed “the life of the mind” is the richest gift we give the young, Mark continues to find inspiration and joy in teaching. Mark has been published in The Dallas Morning News, The Boston Globe, and various professional publications. His classes have been featured on KERA, the local public television station. Mark knows the MG journey is not solitary. Blessed with wonderful, loving family and friends, he hopes his writing will assist others as they navigate life with myasthenia gravis.
Featured Post
How the quiet members of a care team provide invaluable support
1 Kings 19 tells the story of the prophet Elijah’s search to encounter God. Elijah looks for God in a great and powerful wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but has no…
Read more
3 tips for enjoying the holidays while living with myasthenia gravis
Take away any religious connections, and the period from the end of November through the start of January is still the most festive time of the year. Decorating our homes, hosting and attending holiday…
This December, I’ll honor those who’ve passed and share their gifts
Every December, I perform a painful yet cathartic ritual: I find a quiet time free of intrusions and, with a glass of killer eggnog, sit down to listen to the musical “Les Misérables.”…
How the MG community renewed my faith and gratitude
Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate the past year’s blessings. It’s also a time to express gratitude for the people and things that make our lives meaningful and joyful. However, for some people, Thanksgiving…
When MG has me reeling, I turn to the healing power of reading
My earliest school memories revolve around reading class. I couldn’t wait until after lunch, when we’d get out our books and take turns reading. I loved Dick and Jane, Sally, Mother, Father, and…
Understanding the shame that came with my MG was half the battle
In the novel “Till We Have Faces,” C.S. Lewis wrote, “Don’t you think the things people are most ashamed of are the things they can’t help?” These words resonated with me as…
‘Can’t get there from here’: Friends helped me through dark days
If you grew up in New England, you’ve most likely heard about a fictitious exchange between a tourist in need of directions and a reticent Mainer. When asked the best route to the tourist’s…
Patient vigilance can help to avoid or detect medical error
I’ve had epilepsy since I was 9 years old. Because of this, I’ve spent part of my life around hospitals and doctors’ offices. I became aware of the pitfalls that can arise in patient…
‘Change or die’: Learning to embrace my new life with MG
In his book “Change or Die: The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life,” Alan Deutschman presents his belief that humans are resistant to change. According to Deutschman, even when we…
Why quality education is crucial to medical research, advancements
On many weekends when I was a kid, my parents would take the family to the Boston Public Garden. We loved the iconic “Make Way for Ducklings” statues, inspired by the children’s book of…
Catching up with the sun: Fighting fatigue with myasthenia gravis
The short story “Rip van Winkle,” written by Washington Irving and published in 1819, ranks among the classics of American literature. It tells the tale of a man living in colonial America who…
Returning to ‘academic time’ helps me focus on the present
Many kids hate the end of summer, which brings a return to school. I was never one of those kids. I’ve been a nerd since kindergarten. I loved — and still do — the…
