Living Rare, Speaking Loud - a Column by Hollie Amadio

In between HAE attacks, fear and uncertainty weigh heavily

Some people measure their lives in milestones like birthdays, promotions, and weddings. I’ve come to measure mine in disease attacks — the kind that hijack my body, rewrite my plans, and make me feel like a prisoner and stranger in my own skin. But what about the space in between…

When the routines and vagaries of chronic illness meet life burnout

Somewhere between the medication alarms, unexpected flares, everyday symptoms, and insurance denial letters, I forgot how to breathe. It didn’t happen overnight. Burnout crept in slowly, disguised as survival. I was still getting up every day, still managing the house, still being Mom. But inside, I was unraveling. I wasn’t just…

Voices for change in a village of rare disease advocates, part 1

This column is the first in a series of interviews with a mother, a daughter, and a spouse about each one’s hereditary angioedema advocacy journey. In today’s healthcare environment, advocacy has never been more critical. While politics often complicate conversations around healthcare, one truth remains: People living with rare…

Making our voices heard for Rare Disease Week and beyond

Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill is now behind us, and I had the honor of participating this year with the U.S. Hereditary Angioedema Association (HAEA) and EveryLife Foundation’s Rare Disease Legislative Advocates program. The week, which started on Feb. 24, was nothing short of incredible; it was…