A lot of people know who I am. They know my name and recognize my face. They might describe me as “busy,” “organized,” or “the one who always has a plan.” I’ve built a life that, from the outside, looks full of work, family, friends, and commitments. For a long…
Relationships
I hate complaining. Truly. Deep in my soul, I believe in powering through, staying positive, and not becoming “that person” whose personality is just one long sigh. Victim mentality? Not my brand. I like to think I’m more of a “grit, grace, and decent hair day” kind of person. But…
At 44, I’ve reached the age where life starts handing out plot twists no one asked for. Parents get sick. Friends, the same ones I once stayed out too late with, now text me about big health issues. And every so often, someone disappears entirely, leaving a silence that feels…
If I had a dollar for every time someone said, “I shouldn’t complain to you,” I could probably fund my own research grant. It usually happens right after someone shares something stressful, such as their work drama, tough dental work, or a recent bad infection, and then suddenly they remember…
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…
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…
One of my greatest fears has come to fruition. Last week, my daughter was diagnosed with vitiligo, a disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack skin cells that produce melanin, causing the skin to lose its color. Upon hearing the diagnosis, I felt the air leave my lungs,…
More than half of women with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have never discussed pregnancy with their neurologist, and over 40% report that their pregnancies were unplanned, according to data from a survey-based study in Argentina. This lack of communication means that many women with NMOSD may enter pregnancy…
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…
I had waited 16 years to hear one of my favorite bands of all time perform, as their catalog of music was the soundtrack to my youth. That’s how long Oasis, one of the most iconic bands of the 1990s and early 2000s, had been absent from North America —…