Highlighting patients and care partners from around the world living positive lives despite the hurdles they face.
These are their stories, in their own words.
By Ashlee Olsen In 2004, about six weeks after giving birth to my son, I developed my first symptom of neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a rare condition where the immune system damages the spinal cord and the optic nerves. One morning, I woke up and couldn’t see out of my right eye. I visited the local … Read more>>
By Sylvia Groves I am 68 years old and live in a rural area in a fairly remote location in the United Kingdom. My health had always generally been good. I got plenty of exercise outdoors, did physical work, and ate a very healthy diet, including a wide variation of fruits and vegetables daily. I … Read more>>
By Bernadette Sweeney I suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). I was born four weeks early and was intubated as my lungs were not fully developed. I had pneumonia at a year old and as a young child, I suffered from recurrent ear infections. I was treated as an asthmatic as a child, but … Read more>>
By Patricia Antion In this blog post, guest blogger Patricia Antion shares the story of how her life has been altered by the illness, pain, and muscle spasms she experienced over a period of years that eventually led to her being diagnosed with dystonia, a movement disorder, gastroparesis, a digestive disorder affecting the stomach muscles, … Read more>>
By Laura Scott In this blog post, guest blogger Laura Scott shares her story of trying to get answers to the myriad of symptoms she began experiencing as a young mother. Only by continuing to advocate for herself did she eventually learn that she is suffering from four autoimmune diseases. This is my first foray … Read more>>
By Emily Gammell In this blog post, guest blogger Emily Gammell shares her story of living with Interstitial Cystitis, more commonly known as Painful Bladder Syndrome, which is a painful chronic condition affecting the bladder. September is Interstitial Cystitis Awareness Month and Emily is doing her part to raise awareness of this often undiagnosed and misdiagnosed … Read more>>
By Cassidy Urbancic In this blog post, guest blogger Cassidy Urbancic shares her story of being diagnosed and learning to live with celiac disease as a young teen. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, it is estimated that celiac disease affects one in 100 people worldwide and that 2.5 million Americans are undiagnosed and at … Read more>>
By Samantha Harkins In this blog post, guest blogger Samantha Harkins shares her journey with inflammatory bowel disease, including several misdiagnoses, multiple surgeries and finally accepting that Crohn’s Disease is part of her identity. Twenty-one years ago, I was a 19-year-old college junior working at my job at the mall. Suddenly I doubled over in … Read more>>
By Phyllisa Deroze In this blog post, Diabetes Advocate Phyllisa Deroze shares her story of being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and how it affects her life on a daily basis. When I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2011, I was surprised, confused, and overwhelmed. My diagnosis came a week after my primary … Read more>>
In this blog post, Kathleen Furbee shares her story of being diagnosed with and treated for rheumatoid arthritis and how after 10 years of treatment she is grateful for the medical advances that allow her to live a full and happy life. By Kathleen Furbee When I was in my early fifties I came down with … Read more>>