How ‘Heated Rivalry’ helped me face my hypopara fears
The show's popularity encourages me to keep telling diverse stories
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Anyone who has spoken to me in the last two months knows how excited I am about the cultural phenomenon happening with the popular romance franchise “Heated Rivalry” — a story about two LGBTQ+ men who are rival hockey players that fall in love. Not only is this book-to-television love story one of the best and most beautiful adaptations I’ve ever seen, but it’s also shown me that an author with a disability can be very successful writing about queer characters with chronic conditions. This is my biggest dream, one often hampered by my hypoparathyroidism.
I’ve talked before about why representation in media matters, and author Rachel Reid’s story is definitely proof that it does. Reid was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease only four days before showrunner Jacob Tierney reached out about adapting her book series “Game Changers” into a television show. During an interview on CNN, Tierney was asked about the timing of Rachel’s diagnosis in juxtaposition with such an incredible opportunity.
This moment, albeit brief, changed Reid’s life. From a small town in Canada, she admits that she wasn’t receiving the care she needed after her diagnosis, and was on a five-year waitlist to meet with a specialist. After Tierney’s interview with CNN, a neurologist and Parkinson’s expert connected with Reid, and she was finally able to meet with a physician who could help.
I had tears in my eyes while reading this. Partially from empathetic joy, because I think many of us can relate to finally being able to meet with a specialist who makes a difference. But also partly from frustration, because someone shouldn’t need a bestselling book series and hit television show to get proper medical care! And yet, this is a reality that so many of us witness: people with chronic conditions unable to access help because of location or financial limitations.
Reid has said that while initial treatment has helped, she still struggles to type and use a mouse, and is exploring other options. While we have different diagnoses, I know what it’s like to have a story inside without the means to physically get it on the page. I’ve been on my own talk-to-text journey over the past year because of muscle pain and weakness.
There’s something deeply healing and hopeful about watching a chronically ill author around my age find success and better treatment because her work lifts diverse voices. To witness such an outpouring of love from not only the queer and disabled communities, but also heterosexual and able-bodied fans, who speak about these characters and the author with great affection, is something I’d never experienced before.
Chasing my own dreams
Book seven in the collection, published by Harlequin, is now available for pre-order. The show is named after book two in the series and is slated for a second season around 2027. Season 1 dropped last November on HBO Max in the U.S. and Crave in Canada and immediately went viral. Episode 5 even earned a rare perfect 10 score on IMDb. I’ve been enthusiastically watching the world fall in love with this franchise that glitters with queer joy, as well as shines a light on characters who have autism, depression, severe anxiety, a heart condition, and who are grappling with pain.
I’ve been told many times that my hypopara limitations mean I probably won’t have a breakout book, and if I did, I wouldn’t be able to handle it. This series — and especially Reid’s story — has made me face my own fear that I’m too fragile to handle success. As my column header says, I’m precious, not fragile. My hypopara may require more rest and planning, but it doesn’t mean I can’t chase my dreams.
I hope that Reid’s popularity — and that of “Heated Rivalry” — leads to more diverse book adaptations and readers who are hungry for characters with chronic conditions. I hope that these stories help others believe in their own happily ever after. They’ve definitely helped me envision mine.
Note: Hypoparathyroidism News is a strictly news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Hypoparathyroidism News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to hypoparathyroidism.
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