Fatiguing but Succeeding - a Column by Erin Fortin

A message to my PNH community as I bid readers farewell

The time has come for me to bid farewell to readers of my column. I took some time off from writing to reflect on my purpose, spend time with my growing family, and focus on my health. I can’t thank Bionews, the parent company of this website, enough for…

What would happen if there were a cure for PNH?

Sometimes I daydream about what my world would look like if there were a cure for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) other than a bone marrow transplant, which is a high-risk procedure. According to PNH News, treatments available for PNH mainly aim to reduce the destruction of…

4 helpful resources for those new to a PNH diagnosis

No one thinks they’ll hear the words “you have paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)” — until they do. No one is prepared to navigate a PNH diagnosis — until they must. The beginning of this journey can feel like climbing a ladder in a pitch-dark room, your arms outstretched…

YOLO (you only live once) has become my PNH motto

When I was diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), I felt shock and disbelief. I was fully convinced that I’d had a false positive and that, in my heart, the diagnosis couldn’t be true. I remember doing a quick Google search and seeing a Cleveland Clinic statement…

The top 3 responses to my PNH diagnosis from anyone new

Since my diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), I inevitably have a conversation about my health journey each time I meet someone new. I’m an open book and will discuss what I’ve been through medically and continue to handle daily, aiming to invite a safe space for people…

3 rules I use to manage my PNH while food shopping

About a month after my diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), I went to the supermarket because I needed a few items. I didn’t listen to my body at all or gauge how much energy I had; I wasn’t used to that new responsibility, which PNH required. I…

An increase in my physical abilities is good motivation to exercise

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Soliris (eculizumab) and Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Since my diagnosis with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), I’ve become adept at listening to my body. I…