The Beginner's Guide to Walking — Jennifer V.

If only I had a crystal ball that told me exactly how much time I have left, I’d know if I could spend my Sunday on the sofa or if I’d need to plan my dream trip to Indonesia…

I recently celebrated my mother’s birthday, which was lovely because it was a chance to see family members I hadn’t seen in a while. Our adult lives are busy, so regrettably, we don’t get enough time to sit around,…

Living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) often means navigating a journey filled with both triumphs and challenges. While some days I feel that I’m managing the disease well, I quietly suffer on others. For loved ones and…

One of my greatest frustrations of living with a rare disease is how it affects my ability to exercise. Before neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), I enjoyed being an athlete and a dancer. When I graduated from…

In the decade that I’ve lived with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), I’ve connected with many other patients who say they’ve had trouble overcoming the heartache of not knowing who will show up for them in times of…

It’s been over two weeks since we were required to “spring forward” for the arrival of daylight saving time (DST). As a neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patient, I’m not a fan. While the concept was introduced…

I sometimes feel like I’m laughing in the face of death. When I was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), all my internet searches informed me that I’d have about five years to live. Now, more than…

I’ve always been a tech nerd, falling in love with the newest tool in the Internet of Things, such as my Fitbit and phone, which can display various body statistics and control my transcutaneous…

Describing myself has always been a challenge. I’m as complex as the next person, but I feel like I’ve been a chameleon my entire life, always adapting to my surroundings to survive. That drive to survive is how I’ve…

Sometimes while I’m waiting for my prescription, I find myself meandering through the aisles of our local pharmacy. At one point I found myself facing the wall of vitamin supplements. Rows upon rows of nondescript bottles greeted me, each…

I’ve been thin. Very thin. And I’m currently overweight. Very overweight. It’s not lost on me that in this lifetime, I’ve experienced both ends of the weight spectrum. I can make excuses for that, but the bottom line is…

It had to be something special for me to break my silence on X (formerly known as Twitter). I had to share my support for actress Christina Applegate after she appeared at this year’s Emmy Awards in…