Fatiguing but Succeeding - Erin Fortin

Being diagnosed at age 24 with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare blood disorder, hit me out of nowhere. I was young and naive, and never anticipated that something so serious could happen to me at that age. The day I was diagnosed, I went numb after the…

A saying I wish would become more common is “not all disabilities are visible.” That’s the case for me and my invisible disease. Although I understand how people can’t always relate to or remember my limits unless they’ve lived them or see them, my insight into others doesn’t make it…

Before I was diagnosed with my rare disease, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), I took having energy 100% for granted. Since I didn’t have fatigue, I could go about my day doing anything, even exercise (although it wasn’t my favorite activity), without any problems. I liked that I…

When I was diagnosed with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare blood disorder, I was overwhelmed by all the information that was thrown at me. I had to process multiple questions: What exactly is PNH? How do I explain it to others? What does this mean for my…

A common phrase I keep seeing when it comes to living with a rare disease is “don’t let the disease define you.” But what if I did let my paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) diagnosis define me? After all, I’m stronger, kinder, more flexible, and a lot tougher after living…

My view of doctors and their expertise has greatly shifted through my years of living with a rare disease. At one time I held the weight of their knowledge, degrees, and experience to be the end-all-be-all because they were professionals when it came to anything related to medicine. I wouldn’t…

I’m from Long Island, New York, where couples choose either an over-the-top wedding or a down payment for a house; we chose a wedding. As in the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” my husband, John, and I had a day that required immense planning, many moving parts,…

Going to the doctor for a wellness check or discussions about my health was unheard of during the first 24 years of my life. My needle phobia played mind games on me, tricking me into believing that the only reason for invasive blood draws, vaccines, and IVs was to cause…