immunocompromised

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,…

I could feel the discomfort in my throat start to build. Despite how often I cleared my throat, I couldn’t make the feeling disappear. Next, I tried a large glass of water, but the sting with every swallow confirmed my worry: I’m sick. As a neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patient…

Last month was my 41st birthday. A celebration is often a pipe dream, resulting in me feeling drained as the day approaches and then doing nothing. This year was different, though; I had no big plans except eagerly waiting while my husband installed my new birthday gift. I had requested…

You’ve probably heard that we need to drink six to eight glasses of water a day. How many of you successfully hit that target? Don’t beat yourself up if you struggle to meet that quota, or, ahem, meet it with coffee instead. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I…

I have a theory: I’m convinced you can scream (almost) anything at a baseball game. The more obscure the cheer, the greater it is. “You call that peanut butter?!” “Turn ’em upside down!” “Let’s go, captain! Take ’em out to sea!” (This one is way more fun when said in…

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…

I have conflicting emotions about the COVID-19 vaccine. I feel dominated by fear, even though I know this vaccine will lower my risk of contracting the coronavirus. On one hand, I know how important it is to be protected against COVID-19. It’s especially important for me for two reasons: I…