The Beginner's Guide to Walking — Jennifer V.

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…

We all want to belong, but having a rare disease can sometimes feel lonely. Thankfully, the neuromyelitis optica (NMO) community has come a long way since I was diagnosed over 13 years ago.

I sometimes joke that if I had served in the military, I’d win diversity bingo. As a minority woman with a disability, there are many boxes to check off on a self-disclosure form. I…

When was the last time you Googled your name? When I do it, I find my column here at Neuromyelitis News. My work as a post-secondary teacher is rewarding, but it’s also…

It’s the middle of the night. My body has decided it is no longer comfortable. I gingerly move my limbs, hoping to find a new position to satisfy my aches and pains. Suddenly, a…

What do you do when you’ve run out of choices? That’s where I found myself in May 2020. After living attack-free for 10 years, I was stunned when I found myself dealing with a…

While most of us try not to judge a book by its cover, we inevitably still do it at some point. Society has conditioned us to judge people by their physical appearance first, and…

The new year can represent a new start, except it isn’t, really. I still have neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and the challenges that existed in our lives last year are still here. But what…

The phoenix is my spirit animal. Out of the ashes it rises, and a new self is born. That’s how I felt after my neuromyelitis optica (NMO) diagnosis, and it’s how I feel…

Meeting another patient with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare occurrence — as rare as this disease. While most of us have incredible support networks, there’s something unparalleled about meeting another person who…

In the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I usually spend some time thinking about my loved ones and what they mean to me. This year, I thought I’d share a love letter to my…

I have this recurring dream where I’m trapped in a room. I can hear voices on the other side of the door, so I call out, except my voice feels heavy. The words are…