The Beginner's Guide to Walking — Jennifer V.

It was one of those stressful moments when I simply did what needed to be done. My mother had been visiting us in the city for a couple of weeks, and I was sending her home on the train. Parking here in downtown Toronto is nearly impossible, so my husband…

It’s unusual for Toronto to be hit by two massive snowfalls in one week, shutting down the city and giving kids rare snow days. As a lifelong Canadian, I’m no stranger to snow, although I’m usually fortunate enough to avoid anything major. The downtown skyscrapers in Toronto usually shield us…

Why does it seem like every Google search I do regarding my health blames my weakened immune system for whatever is happening on a particular day? Take, for example, one simple question I innocently asked: “Why are my feet so dry?” Suddenly, I was knee-deep in results suggesting I was…

Do you ever have moments when you stand in front of the mirror longer than you should and don’t recognize the person staring back at you? Sometimes I look at myself, and my tired eyes, stress wrinkles, and bloated face make my appearance unfamiliar. It’s a body that resembles…

I always feel like the start of a new year arrives with a certain amount of pressure. We make resolutions, talk about reinvention, and make quiet promises to ourselves that we’ll do better. As someone living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), that pressure can feel especially heavy. Chronic…

The winter solstice — the shortest day and longest night of the year — can feel daunting, but I see it as a powerful metaphor for hope, resilience, and the promise of brighter days. I’m writing this from a place of light, so that when the darkness returns, I can…

No one dreams of becoming a patient, especially one who must constantly advocate for their own care. Yet countless people living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) face this reality every day. Today, we honor Human Rights Day, which commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of…

It’s astonishing how quickly life can shrink down to just the present moment when you’re living with a chronic illness like neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Its symptoms have a way of pulling you into the now with an intensity that can feel all-consuming, whether it’s managing fatigue,…

I’m embarrassed that I was embarrassed. I was walking out of the conference hall with some new acquaintances, making polite small talk about how my firm could support their work — the things you say when you’re trying to make a good impression — and we said our goodbyes and…

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…

It’s a weird feeling, always waiting for the other shoe to drop, knowing there’s a secret assassin lurking in my body. It causes me anxiety. That’s what life is like with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), which I’ve had for 16 years. Lately, though, I’ve been OK, as I…