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…
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…
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…
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…
When people picture someone with an illness or disability, they often visualize a wheelchair, medical device, or some other visible sign that the person is facing health challenges. But there’s not always an external indicator that someone is living with an illness. As a Talkspace article explains, “An invisible…
It takes courage to be vulnerable, especially when sharing your story with strangers on the internet. After being diagnosed with aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), I’ve seen the impact storytelling has had on my life. We’ve all experienced moments that made a monumental impression on us.
Depression seeps in like a snake, slithering slowly as it makes its way into your life. You feel it there, but only a little. Then, one day, the full force hits you. Depression has a way of robbing you of your joy and happiness. It becomes regular to miss events…
Battling my rare blood disorders, aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, initially brought a sense of shame to my life. I was ashamed to be the sick girl who was living at home with her parents and dependent on them for daily needs. As Brené Brown wrote…
The American historian and writer Alice Morse Earle said, “Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.” It’d be nice to wake up every morning to see that it is what you consider to be a perfect day. Unfortunately, that’s not the reality…
I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to explain my symptoms to others. Fatigue is easy to confuse with laziness. Bruises on my body can make people wonder. Brain fog is hard to differentiate from forgetting things because I don’t care. As I battle aplastic…
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