After I was diagnosed with aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), I was told to consider a bone marrow transplant. My doctor quickly pointed out, however, that there weren’t many minority donors available. According to the National Marrow Donor Program’s Be The Match registry, you’re…
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what I’ve learned about my mental health while on this journey with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and aplastic anemia. I was prompted to ponder this topic after reading several articles about World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, which seeks…
Last week, I sat on my couch, curled up with a blanket, and turned on the movie “Sitting in Bars With Cake.” I watched the trailer before hitting “play,” understanding that an important piece of the story involved a young woman who received a life-altering medical diagnosis. To…
“What is it like to be diagnosed with life-threatening blood disorders as a young adult?” When someone asks me this question, my body language answers as I sigh deeply, tense my shoulders, pop my fingers, and fidget anxiously. It’s a loaded question with many answers. Being a young adult…
Recently, I heard someone say they were facing a “new normal” with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). It made me think about the many ways PNH has affected me, including forcing me to adjust to a new way of life. I am guilty of sometimes thinking that my life will…
The other day, I was telling my story of being diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and aplastic anemia to a woman over Zoom. Halfway through, she said, “Wow, you are so resilient.” After that, my mind began to wander. Many people have used this word to compliment…
When I was diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and aplastic anemia, my life became a disorganized mess. I received no warnings before the chaos ensued. It felt like I was trying to reach out and grab an issue so I could bring it close to me and resolve it.
Truth moment: I’m stubborn. I’d rather figure out problems by myself than ask for help. But when I was faced with two chronic illnesses, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and aplastic anemia, I had to learn the importance of letting others help me. Once I was diagnosed, caregivers…
I’ll never forget the confusion and fear that began to take over my body when I heard the words “You’ve been diagnosed with PNH,” or paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. It was 2016, and not only was I told I’d have to battle this illness, but I’d also been diagnosed…
When I first heard the term “brain fog,” I was confused about what it meant. After my diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and aplastic anemia, brain fog became one of my prevalent symptoms. I didn’t understand the impact it’d eventually have on my health over the…
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