At first glance, many might say that our family appears totally healthy. However, my daughter Bella, 13, fights neuromyelitis optica (NMO) every day, and despite being her caregiver, I have health issues of my own. When Bella got sick in August 2017, I was almost done with the classes…
Daily living
Most nights, I can’t wait to go to bed. I’ll rush through my bedtime routine, but even though I’m beyond exhausted, I can’t seem to fall asleep. It secretly irks me to be the only one in my household still awake at night. Even my pug, Magnus, who normally barks…
I am one of the few lucky ones who really enjoy what they do for a living, but that’s probably because I’ve taken control of my destiny. I am constantly reinventing myself and building the career I want. This became even more important after I was diagnosed with neuromyelitis…
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, many families are concerned about the holidays. I’m trying to approach the season with patience, but as someone with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), I’m also tired, frustrated, and scared. Living with this disease and taking immunosuppressants means I’m at a higher risk of becoming…
Tattoos have always been a form of expression. Throughout history, tattoos have been used to convey love and grief, depict religious symbols, and even serve as a form of punishment. The oldest known tattoo was found on “Iceman,” a mummified corpse who lived 5,200 years ago. The art of…
¿Cómo estás? 你好嗎 Ça va? How are you? With the holiday season upon us, people are getting together, hopefully safely, considering the persistent COVID-19 pandemic. While I always enjoy seeing friends and loved ones, I find it uncomfortable when I’m asked difficult questions like, “How are you?” While the phrase…
When we are diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), it can feel like we’re being pushed into the deep end of the pool and left to sink or swim on our own. Navigating a whole new life with a rare disease can be confusing and overwhelming. Part of that feeling…
Gravity is my friend. Even if I’m tired, gravity will pull my snowboard and me down the mountain. I like to ride alone because I need to listen to music, which I only play in one ear so I can hear my surroundings. During the offseason, I build music…
Sometimes in life, the easiest decisions make the greatest impact. It probably wasn’t reasonable for a new couple to get a dog together, but that’s exactly how Marmaduke came into our lives. A wild idea led to an internet search, and as luck would have it, we were able to…
In my family, I am the third child of four, the daughter of proud, immigrant parents. I grew up in small towns until I finally relocated to Toronto in my early 20s. Growing up, I only knew one kid with an illness, and she entered my life as quickly as…
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