Daily living

My friend Liz flew in from Texas for a long weekend here in Toronto, and together we crossed something special off our lists: seeing one of our favorite bands live in concert. It wasn’t just a reunion, but a reminder of how music, friendship, and shared experiences can bring light…

After ordering my double-double coffee, I wait patiently in the second line for my order to be called. (If you’ve been to Canada, you know my double-double reference could only mean I’m at Tim Hortons.) Two patrons later, a woman places her order. I expect her to join the…

Some days I feel like I’m made of symptoms. Living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) means navigating a body that’s constantly shifting beneath me, unpredictable in ways that defy preparation. Speaking of symptoms: One moment, my spine burns with relentless pain. The next day I’m ravenous, only…

People diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who lose their jobs or cut back on their hours likely contend with vision loss, worsening pain, the use of walking aids, and frequent fatigue or depressed mood, an international study reports. “Developing a robust set of disability guidelines to protect…

Before I was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), I never gave much thought to routine. I’d sleep when I felt tired, exercise when I had the motivation, and take life as it came. But after NMOSD entered my world, I quickly learned that unpredictability was no longer…

I was born in a small town two hours away, but Toronto has been my home for more than two decades, and it’s where my husband and I are raising our daughter. Recently, while hosting one of her schoolmates for the week, we decided to play tourists in our own…

In the morning, I like to wake up a few minutes before my family does. As I sip my tea and watch the sunlight spill through the windows, I usually use that quiet time to mentally prepare for the day ahead. But lately, things have shifted. I’m 43, and this…

A lot can change if you give it time. Seven months ago, I stood on a beach in Mexico, looking out onto the vast ocean. I remember wanting to feel hopeful after enduring flare-up after flare-up of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and yet also wondering if it’d just…

When my neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) was stable, I dreaded having annual medical checkups. They felt like an unnecessary hassle that required me to take time off work, fight downtown traffic, hunt for parking, and wait for an hour to see my specialist, only to learn that nothing…

Last week, I was fired from my job. I’m still disappointed and angry but mostly confused. I can’t talk about the specifics, but I can share that major life stressors — particularly situations that can’t be undone, such as losing a job, enduring a divorce, or grieving the death of…