Why does it seem like every Google search I do regarding my health blames my weakened immune system for whatever is happening on a particular day? Take, for example, one simple question I innocently asked: “Why are my feet so dry?” Suddenly, I was knee-deep in results suggesting I was…
The Beginner's Guide to Walking - a Column by Jennifer V.
Do you ever have moments when you stand in front of the mirror longer than you should and don’t recognize the person staring back at you? Sometimes I look at myself, and my tired eyes, stress wrinkles, and bloated face make my appearance unfamiliar. It’s a body that resembles…
I always feel like the start of a new year arrives with a certain amount of pressure. We make resolutions, talk about reinvention, and make quiet promises to ourselves that we’ll do better. As someone living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), that pressure can feel especially heavy. Chronic…
The winter solstice — the shortest day and longest night of the year — can feel daunting, but I see it as a powerful metaphor for hope, resilience, and the promise of brighter days. I’m writing this from a place of light, so that when the darkness returns, I can…
No one dreams of becoming a patient, especially one who must constantly advocate for their own care. Yet countless people living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) face this reality every day. Today, we honor Human Rights Day, which commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of…
It’s astonishing how quickly life can shrink down to just the present moment when you’re living with a chronic illness like neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Its symptoms have a way of pulling you into the now with an intensity that can feel all-consuming, whether it’s managing fatigue,…
I’m embarrassed that I was embarrassed. I was walking out of the conference hall with some new acquaintances, making polite small talk about how my firm could support their work — the things you say when you’re trying to make a good impression — and we said our goodbyes and…
They say that time heals all wounds, but when you’re living with a rare autoimmune disorder that has no cure, every relapse leaves lasting damage, both emotional and physical. Last week, I attended a patient day for the neuroinflammatory community here in southwestern Ontario, Canada, where I had the opportunity…
It’s a weird feeling, always waiting for the other shoe to drop, knowing there’s a secret assassin lurking in my body. It causes me anxiety. That’s what life is like with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), which I’ve had for 16 years. Lately, though, I’ve been OK, as I…
The kitchen is humming with energy, my daughter has decked out our living room in a sea of blue and white, and the scent of homemade nachos wafts through the air. It’s October in Canada, and the Toronto Blue Jays are making a run for the World Series, the first…
Recent Posts
- Every time I turn to Dr. Google, I get an immune system mystery
- Conventional NMOSD treatment effective in double-negative cases
- Grieving how NMOSD has left me uncomfortable in my own skin
- Enspryng outperforms standard immunosuppressants in NMOSD study
- Slow and steady: I’m ditching big resolutions and easing into a new year
- Late-onset NMOSD responds better to newer, highly effective therapies
- New biomarker may help gauge disease severity in NMOSD
- The longest night of the year offers hope of brighter days with NMOSD
- Advanced plasma exchange therapy effectively eases NMOSD attacks
- Reaffirming that access to healthcare is a human right