“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…
Brave Butterfly: A Hypoparathyroidism Journey - a Column by Bari Vapnek
“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…
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…
“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…
“Every silver lining’s got a touch of grey/ I will get by/ … I will survive.” — “Touch of Grey,” the Grateful Dead Some songs resonate with me, regardless of the genre. I enjoy all music, from Top 40 to classic rock, rap, and the Grateful Dead. The lyrics are…
“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…
“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…
“Knowledge is the light of the mind.” — University of Delaware’s motto May 27, 1995, was a significant day in my life. It was the day I graduated from the University of Delaware, a momentous occasion held at the school’s football stadium in Newark. The hot and sunny Memorial Day…
‘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…
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