‘To be an activist is to speak. To be an advocate is to listen. Society can’t move forward without both.” — activist Eva Maria Lewis When I was diagnosed with the rare endocrine disorder hypoparathyroidism in 1998, I felt like I was the only person in the world…
“You’re never too old to need your mom.” — Drew Vapnek Life with hypoparathyroidism, more simply nicknamed hypopara, is so unpredictable. I never know if I’ll have a good or bad day. The past few months have been a roller coaster as I wean down from my 60 mcg…
“Helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.” — Anonymous Spring is my favorite season. The flowers are blooming, the temperature is ideal, and it’s an excellent time to appreciate beautiful days like today. I have spring fever! Along with tulips…
“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” — Charles R. Swindoll My adult children invited me to Walt Disney World for Labor Day weekend in 2023. They know I always try to make things happen when they have a request. Since they’re also…
“No two paths are the same, just as no two people are the same.” — writer Cait Flanders My motto — “Everything happens the way it should” — expresses an acceptance that sometimes things occur beyond our control. It’s similar to the Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy of accepting things we cannot…
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…
“Passover is a time of reflection and joy, when we emerge from our cocoon of doubt to fly freely on the wings of faith.” — Unknown Last week, I celebrated Passover, a Jewish holiday rich with traditions passed down through generations. We gather with family, surrounded by love, as we…
“May the dreams of your past be the reality of your future.” — Jimi Hendrix I celebrated my birthday last week with minimal fanfare yet much gratitude to have turned 52. I missed celebrations this year because my hypoparathyroidism, or hypopara, doesn’t respect plans and shows up when I…
I am Bari Gordon Vapnek, and I’m thrilled to share my brave journey with hypoparathyroidism here in this new column. Living in Florida, I’m a 51-year-old mother of two: a 25-year-old daughter, Drew, who’s a chiropractor in Atlanta, and a 23-year-old son, Harrison, who’s a sports director for an…
Get regular updates to your inbox.
