With chronic illness, surviving the holidays means letting go of perfect

Wouldn’t it be nice to glide into the holiday season with everything checked off your to-do list? Every year, I set out with the best intentions to start my Christmas shopping early, write heartfelt holiday cards, and take care of mundane details like ordering a turkey from my local butcher…

Navigating Holiday Gatherings Amid the Pandemic With Autoimmune Disease

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…