Columns

I often wonder how many hours a year I spend in waiting rooms. I’ve been avoiding doing the math, but part of me wants to know. Because of my hypoparathyroidism and multiple comorbidities, I go to two to five medical appointments a week. An average of 3.5 appointments a…

“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…

Whenever I get together with my chronic illness friends — especially fellow hypoparathyroidism warriors — we always end up sharing horror stories about the times we needed treatment and couldn’t get it. Some of my favorite advice about advocating for my health comes from the Hypoparathyroidism Association’s 2023…

“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…

Since my diagnosis with hypoparathyroidism, also known as hypopara, it’s been easy to blame a lot of things on my disease. That pain in my arm? Probably a muscle spasm. That headache? Might have something to do with my calcium level. Fatigue? Well, that’s just something I fight every…

“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,…

On a recent episode of the “New Heights” podcast, singer Taylor Swift said, “Think of your energy … as if it’s like a luxury item.” I repeat this phrase every day. Over the past three weeks, I’ve been on a typing hiatus, trying to heal muscle and…

“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…

“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…

“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…