This year, I’m choosing strength, balance, and purpose

Now that we’re settled into 2026, I want to share some intentions I’m setting rather than goals. Living with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) has taught me that life doesn’t always move in straight lines. Sometimes it pauses. Sometimes it forces you to pivot. And sometimes it asks you to be stronger than you ever imagined.

For years now, PNH has been a part of my story — not the whole story, but an undeniable chapter. It has taught me patience and humility, and that my body, while resilient, deserves compassion as much as determination.

One of my biggest intentions for 2026 is simple, but powerful: to prioritize my health without guilt. That means listening to my body and paying attention to symptoms instead of pushing through exhaustion. It means keeping my appointments, staying consistent with treatment, and being honest when I need rest. For so long, I’ve tried to be everything to everyone — a wife, a professional, a business owner, and the list goes on. Sometimes I forget that I also need to be there for myself.

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Another intention is balance. PNH has shown me how quickly life can shift, and in 2026, I want to protect my peace as fiercely as my responsibilities. Balance means building my business and career while still making memories with my family. It means understanding that success isn’t measured only by achievements, but also by moments of laughter, rest, and presence.

I also want to continue using my voice. Being a PNH patient advocate has become deeply personal to me. Every time I share my story, I’m reminded that someone else may feel less alone because of it. My goal is to keep raising awareness, educating, and showing others that a diagnosis doesn’t erase your purpose — it refines it.

Another intention this year is gratitude. PNH has changed the way I see time. I no longer take “normal” days for granted. I’m grateful for stable labs, good days, supportive doctors, and a family that stands beside me even when they can’t see what I’m fighting internally.

Finally, my biggest intention this year is to live fully, not fearfully. PNH may always be part of my journey, but it will never be the author of my limits. I am more than my diagnosis. I am still building, still dreaming, and still becoming.

If 2026 has taught me anything already, it’s this: Strength doesn’t always look like pushing forward. Sometimes, it looks like choosing yourself — and continuing on anyway.

Note: PNH News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of PNH News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

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