Dark to Hopeful - a Column by Shaquilla Gordon

Speaking up: The power of self-advocacy with PNH

When I was diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) in 2017, I felt powerless. I had no control over what was happening to my body and found myself at the mercy of doctors and medical jargon I barely understood. At first, too overwhelmed to push for my own needs,…

How my PNH diagnosis affected my mental health

When I was diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) in May 2017, I thought the biggest battle I would face was the physical one. I was wrong. While the fatigue, blood clots, and pain were undeniably difficult, nothing could’ve prepared me for the mental and emotional toll this rare…

My PNH journey has been one of family, strength, and hope

Life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way, and for me, one of them came in the form of the rare disease paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). In May 2017, at the age of 27, I was diagnosed with this life-altering condition, which causes the destruction of…