Brave Butterfly: A Hypoparathyroidism Journey - a Column by Bari Vapnek

The silent struggle of hiding my hypoparathyroidism

“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…

A year of loss and grief, and a fresh outlook on life

“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…

Flying high as I embrace a positive change in my life with hypopara

“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…

What the 49ers taught me about self-improvement and hope

“The principle is competing against yourself. It’s about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before.” — Steve Young, Hall of Fame quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers My favorite time of the year kicks off tonight with the opening of the 106th regular season of the NFL,…

I’m at a crossroads of hypoparathyroidism treatment

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” — Seneca Labor Day on Sept. 1 marks the end of summer and the start of a new school year. For me, it’s always symbolized new beginnings, particularly regarding my health. I cherish the anticipation of a fresh start. While change…

Even during a difficult month, I choose to be grateful

“You can’t lose something you never had.” — Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson), from the 2003 movie “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days“ I write about several topics in this “Brave Butterfly” column: my hatred of hypoparathyroidism; my kids and family; sports (49ers season is…

The scare of my most recent hypopara hospitalization

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” — Forrest (Tom Hanks), from the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump” When I wrote most of this column on Sunday, I’d been confined to my hospital bed at Boca Raton Regional Hospital in Florida for…

Brace for turbulence: Traveling with hypopara isn’t easy

“We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” — A.A. Milne Summer is a time for escapades. From mountains to oceans and many places in between, life is an adventure meant to be lived, not passed by. I live each day fully, soaking…