Columns

There’s a quiet kind of strength that doesn’t get applause. It’s not loud or dramatic. It’s the strength it takes to keep going when your body feels like it’s quitting on you. The kind that gets up anyway, that smiles through fatigue, that finds peace in small moments others might…

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is more than just a tongue twister; it’s a rare, chronic blood disorder that alters every aspect of life. When I was diagnosed with it in 2017, I quickly realized I wouldn’t just be on a physical journey, but also an emotional and informational…

I get it. That’s the first thing I want any patient reading this column to know. I understand what you’re going through; you are not alone. After my diagnoses with aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), I experienced many emotions, including loneliness. Hearing that my blood…

You never think you’ll face health issues until you do. I wasn’t at all prepared for my diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and aplastic anemia, and the news filled me with worry. I was thrust into a world of unknowns and forced to learn about two rare…

When I was diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) in 2017, food was the last thing on my mind. I was overwhelmed by appointments, blood work, and adjusting to my “new normal.” But over time, I realized that what I put into my body played a huge role in…

Living with rare blood disorders can bring a sense of loneliness. Of the billions of people on Earth, only a handful truly understand what I’m going through. In addition, trying to find a good support team and helpful health information can be daunting and stressful. With my diagnoses of…

Some days I wake up and forget for a few golden seconds that I have paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). My eyes flutter open, and there’s no tightness in my chest, no pounding in my head, no crushing fatigue pulling me back into the mattress. There’s just morning light, the…

In past columns, I’ve stated that I live with both aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Today I want to explain how I navigate these two rare blood disorders simultaneously. In 2009, I was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a condition in which the bone marrow doesn’t produce…

Living with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) for nearly eight years has shaped how I show up in every part of my life. It’s a quiet battle, mostly invisible to the outside world, but inside, it’s a constant balancing act. One of the most difficult and misunderstood symptoms I…

Recently, I participated in a paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) panel discussion where patients shared stories about living with the blood disorder. Many mentioned that support from hospital staff helped them build a community they didn’t know they needed. After being diagnosed with aplastic anemia and PNH, I…