Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Natpara (parathyroid hormone). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao-tzu In 2016, after I experienced a…
Brave Butterfly: A Hypoparathyroidism Journey
— Bari Vapnek
Bari Gordon Vapnek was born in New York and relocated to Florida in 1995 after graduating from the University of Delaware with a BS in Business Administration. Hired as a director of new business development, she married in 1997 and, a year later, was diagnosed with the rare disease, hypoparathyroidism. Unaware of the implications of diagnosis, she persevered through challenging days, relying on a daily intake of calcium, her lifeline.
Having to leave her career, she became a mom, managing hypoparathyroidism and feeling isolated. In 2019 she discovered the Hypoparathyroidism Association. She became actively involved and assumed a position as a board member. Bari has written and spoken publicly about her journey. She believes her column can help those who feel isolated in their diagnosis.
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