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

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…

I decided to take control of my health, but may have overdone it

“Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere.” — From the film “Van Wilder” I’ve been sitting a lot lately. I’ve watched every new show and movie released in the last six weeks. Ever since my sweet dog Princess Leia passed…

Life is a story we embrace daily and learn to cherish

“There is no table of contents in the Book of Life. We don’t know if we’re at the beginning of a new chapter, or the end of a story. Which is why we must be grateful every time the page turns.” — From the 2016 movie “War Dogs” Life is…

Considering language, ritual, and the way I speak my truth

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with acupuncture. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. “Isn’t it funny? The truth just sounds different.” — Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) from the 2000 movie “Almost Famous” Monday morning…

A supportive family helps me navigate life’s twists and turns

“Bumpy roads often lead to beautiful places.” — MLB coach Dave Martinez Living with hypoparathyroidism has been quite the adventure. It’s shown me that life is full of twists and turns that don’t come with a road map. Symptoms can emerge without warning, leading to unexpected health…

Surviving the storm, be it a hurricane or my hypopara

“We can’t control the storms that come our way, but we can control how we navigate through them.” — Fernanda Melchor’s novel “Hurricane Season” It’s almost summer here in the Sunshine State of Florida! It’s hot, humid, and rains daily. Floridians know to bring an umbrella, SPF, and a water…

The importance of trust in life with hypoparathyroidism

“To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.” — George MacDonald Building trust takes years, yet it can shatter in moments. This fragility can be a heavy burden. As Brian Keigley, president of Bionews (the publisher of this site), recently wrote on LinkedIn, “Trust isn’t a…