Jennifer V.,  —

Jennifer V. (she/her) received her diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder – aquaporin-4 positive (NMOSD-AQP4) in early 2010. Residing in Toronto, Canada, Jennifer actively manages her condition, which is often unseen, by maintaining a busy schedule. She works as an HR consultant, and is a passionate patient advocate. In her personal life, Jennifer plays the roles of a devoted mother to her daughter, a dog's loving guardian (her fur baby), a dedicated wife, caring sister her siblings, and a protective daughter. You can stay updated with Jennifer by following her column, "The Beginner's Guide to Walking."

Articles by Jennifer van Amerom

No, it’s not OK to discuss the fluctuations in my weight

I’ve been thin. Very thin. And I’m currently overweight. Very overweight. It’s not lost on me that in this lifetime, I’ve experienced both ends of the weight spectrum. I can make excuses for that, but the bottom line is that my body has endured sharp weight fluctuations for many reasons…

Why hope is important in managing my NMOSD

I’ve always been a superstitious person. It started by listening to tales about my oma (grandma), who was a believer in the dark arts. My greatest memory of her is from one evening when she called everyone to say goodbye, knowing she would pass away the next day. And she…

I’m not alone when illnesses lead me to my breaking point

Everyone has a breaking point. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed by sadness, depression, or anxiety when life’s pressures become too heavy. Those of us who have chronic illnesses have our breaking points, too. As a lifelong patient with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), I’d like to believe it…

Pets and immunocompromised patients: What you should know

The snoring emanating from my dog, Magnus, is distinctly different from a human’s. His gentle, rhythmic purr, characteristic of pugs, has a mesmerizing yet endearing quality. It’s seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of my daily life, serving as a comforting soundtrack to my existence. When my previous pug,…

How I’m grappling with symptoms of 3 more autoimmune disorders

My health situation has become incredibly trying recently. I’m hesitant to shed any tears because I fear they won’t stop. When I was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), I was told I might face one or more additional autoimmune diseases in my lifetime. Initially, this warning seemed…