From Fear to Fighter - Brandi Lewis

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…

Planning a trip and traveling somewhere new can be exciting, but also overwhelming. I have to ensure I’ve packed everything, planned a fabulous wardrobe, and tied up any loose ends before my departure. My…

In 2016, I received the news that changed the course of my life, words I never thought I’d hear: “You’ve been diagnosed with two chronic illnesses.” Turns out I was battling both aplastic…

In 2019, I gave a TEDx talk on relationships with chronically ill patients, titled “What your sick friends and family really need most from you.” Using the correlation of food, I provided what…

There was a brief period when my parents and I counted how many times I was poked with a needle and how many medications I took each day. On my way to appointments…

When you are diagnosed with a chronic illness, no one hands you a manual telling you how you’ll feel. There is no explanation about the emotional journey you will embark upon. In…

When I heard the words “you’ve been diagnosed with aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria” (PNH), my body quickly began working. My mind, however, stayed in a state of confusion. The…

It’s so easy to sit scared and frustrated when diagnosed with illnesses like mine, aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Together they brought back and heightened my sense of fear.

One night as I was lying in a hospital bed, across the hall was another patient whose young son was running through the hallways. For some reason, the doors to both of our rooms…

As fatigue took hold of my body, I’d lie in bed and think how lazy I was for not getting up to start the day. Early in my health battle, I had trouble being…