Courage to Care — Candice Galvan

Biting into a raw lemon is always a shocking experience no matter how many times you’ve done it. The smell of a lemon may be fresh and inviting, but the taste? Not so much. Yet when you take a…

When I was growing up, I was the girl in class who frequently received teacher comments on my report card saying “talks too much in class.” While I agree that I probably should have paid more attention to the…

2023 was an incredible year for my family and me, full of growth, learning opportunities, job promotions, travel, mostly good health, and advocacy. At the beginning of last year, I set a goal to use my voice and…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with medical marijuana products. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Living in Colorado is a dream for…

Living in a big city like Denver has always had its perks. My office downtown is but a 10-minute drive from home, our food scene is incredible, and the city is diverse and always growing. And one of the…

Summer for most teens is a time to relax, stay up and wake up late, enjoy time with friends, and be free from the demands and stress of high school. For my 15-year-old daughter, Bella, though, summer has been…

The past few years have been challenging for me, my family, and especially my youngest daughter, Bella, who in 2017 was diagnosed at 9 years old with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). At the time, the…

A 15th birthday is a special event for a teenager. Whether you have a big celebration with lots of friends and family, or a small gathering with loved ones and furry friends, having the opportunity to celebrate another trip…

The human body is a fascinating and mysterious thing both to understand and to listen to. Personally, I think hiccups are one of the most annoying things our bodies do. They seem to come at the worst time…

A few weeks ago, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases hosted its 12th annual Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill. This year, 600 advocates, including me, gathered in Washington, D.C., to learn about public policy, share our stories…

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is the illness that robbed my youngest daughter, Bella, of her innocence and a big part of her childhood. It’s the illness that appeared to us overnight in 2017, changing our lives forever. It’s what…