Together — Mark Harrington

Author and essayist Anne Lamott once wrote that “faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns.” In the five years since I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), uncertainty has become a mess that calls for daily accommodation. My…

Six years ago, I knew little about myasthenia gravis (MG) and nothing about COVID-19. I traveled, drove a high-end German car, and had a cleaning lady who kept things tidy. My lifestyle was definitely comfortable. However, I knew it wasn’t due to me being superior to anyone else. Like…

When I was 8, I developed epilepsy and doctors prescribed me phenobarbital. For 24 years, I lived unaware of the drug’s side effects. My childhood and adolescence would have been very different without it, but I’m alive today thanks to the medication. Five years ago I was diagnosed with…

Living with myasthenia gravis (MG) tends to make one familiar with the world of medicine. Since my MG diagnosis in 2020, I’ve researched many different aspects of life with the disease. Along with the medical triumphs that have improved many patients’ lives, I’ve discovered that successful treatment requires an…

I grew up in Malden, Massachusetts, surrounded by history. According to the City of Malden’s website, “In 1640, the Puritans settled in Malden on land purchased in 1629 from the Native American Pennacook Tribe.” On May 27, 1776, the citizens of Malden declared that, should the colonists…

My dad was born 100 years ago June 20. It’s funny that June is Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month, as he lived the last 10 years of his life with the condition. Before that, Dad spent 40 years in the classroom teaching English. He was born a teacher. His years…

Living with myasthenia gravis (MG) means living with a body that doesn’t always cooperate. Muscle weakness, fatigue, and frustration can be daily companions. The support and love of family and friends are crucial. Since my diagnosis, I’ve met people from many backgrounds who’ve become my friends. The strange…

Living with myasthenia gravis (MG) has changed important parts of my life. It has taken things from me that I thought were permanent, such as my physical strength. My previous ability to plan my days with confidence no longer exists. Most difficult of all, MG has made me distrust…

In the novel “The Lightning Thief,” Rick Riordan writes that “knowing too much of your future is never a good thing.” Five years ago this month, I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG). Back then, if I could’ve seen the emotional, physical, and psychological toll this illness would have…

Living with a rare disease is difficult enough, but in the United States, patients fight not only their illness, but also the healthcare system that’s supposed to help them. I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) five years ago this month. Managing it requires specialized care, regular…

This is a letter to all those who read and appreciate the work of Bionews, the parent company of this website. Like you, I am a member of the rare disease community, and writing a column about myasthenia gravis (MG) has lightened some of the darker moments of…

Grief’s companion is pain. But in that pain, we can find richness. Holding my mother’s hand as she took her last breath was incredibly painful, but also one of the finest moments of my life. I was able to be with her as she exited this world, just as she…