From Fear to Fighter - Brandi Lewis

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…