From Fear to Fighter - Brandi Lewis

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…

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…

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…

“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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…