“Independence is happiness.” — Susan B. Anthony I have learned that if I want something done correctly, I should do it myself. I am independent. I’ve been this way my whole life, and it has helped me manage my hypoparathyroidism. Hypopara casts a shadow over my life, dictating the…
“Scars are souvenirs you never lose/ The past is never far.” — “Name” by the Goo Goo Dolls As I’ve previously written, I take a photo every day as a reminder of a life lived, not one that has passed by. I have boxes of photos from all stages…
“Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.” — Dory from “Finding Nemo” Hypoparathyroidism consumes me; it’s a constant battle, a full-time job. My life revolves around the condition, whether it’s supporting fellow patients, sharing my experiences with researchers, going to the…
“Long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive/ I’ve got my life to live, and all my love to give/ And I will survive.” — “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor My journey into motherhood began right as I was diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism. Nine months…
“We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe!” — King T’Challa (played by Chadwick Boseman) in the 2018 film “Black Panther” My brain fog has been horrible lately. I can recall moments from a random day in 1988, but can’t…
“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.” — Rafiki in “The Lion King” In October 2018, I prepared to embark on a new chapter in my life with hypoparathyroidism, armed with a journal…
“I’m used to being judged. I know what that feels like.” — NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip Hypoparathyroidism is an invisible illness. I appear healthy, but I struggle to exercise and become dizzy from low blood pressure. I easily forget things and sometimes can’t remember what I was saying…
“Grief is the price we pay for love.” — Queen Elizabeth II Today marks a year since my dog, Princess Leia, died. A coton de tulear, Leia was a cute, little, white ball of fluff. She was by my side from the moment I picked her up, Super…
“We’re all in this together/ When we reach/ We can fly/ Know inside/ We can make it/ We’re all in this together.” – “High School Musical” When I was diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism after having surgery for Graves’ disease in 1998, I thought I was the only person with this…
“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.” — Unknown The transformation of an awkward, unattractive caterpillar into a graceful, winged butterfly is a remarkable spectacle and a powerful symbol of change, renewal, and growth. This journey of self-discovery teaches the caterpillar to embrace…
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