Having a chronic illness feels a little like being a hostage negotiator. It’s my functionality and I trapped behind an unpredictable chronic illness that’s got a chip on its shoulder and is out for blood. The alarm has been tripped and the medics are outside, but it doesn’t change the…
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“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…
When I was a teenager, adults used to tell me time sped up every year. I scoffed in that way kids do when they don’t believe an adult, but I swear these days that time is nonsensical. This week marks my two-year anniversary on Yorvipath (palopegteriparatide), the first and only…
“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…
I was having an incredible week! I’d pushed my body to the limit to meet my book deadline and had finished on time. I took part in a rare career opportunity and went to sleep on Tuesday night celebrating. Wednesday morning, I had to make a call about the…
‘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…
When I walk into the small, LGBTQ-owned salon that has seen my best and worst hypoparathyroidism days, I’m always relieved that I can just be me. Not only is it a place of safety and comfort for me as a queer woman, but also as a person with a…
“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…
I have a mortal enemy. We circle each other often. I’m consistently trying to de-escalate and avoid, while they’re popping up at the most surprising moments, rendering me incapacitated. I spend hundreds of dollars a month trying to protect myself, hoping I continue to be successful in my lifelong fight.
Recent Posts
- Early trial tests safety of potential treatment for hypoparathyroidism
- New medical diagnoses answer months of questions
- Reflections on the first anniversary of ‘Brave Butterfly’
- New hormone replacement treatment for hypoparathyroidism is safe: Trial
- New weekly therapy moves toward Phase 3 for hypoparathyroidism