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My daughter’s long journey to a hereditary angioedema diagnosis

Before being diagnosed with hereditary angioedema (HAE) in 2019 at age 17, my adopted daughter, Leah, received several other rare diagnoses, none of which had any real targeted treatment. They caused symptoms, such as migraine, and other systemic reactions. One diagnosis was postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which was…

Learning how to navigate the ‘One-Up Olympics’

It’s one of Kristen Wiig’s most memorable “Saturday Night Live” characters and probably one of her most relatable. During her seven-year tenure as a cast member on the show, Wiig popularized a hilarious and slightly annoying character named Penelope. The sketches’ premise was pretty simple: During a seemingly innocuous gathering,…

From isolation to community: The power of connection

Living with chronic illness can be profoundly isolating. The physical pain, emotional strain, and constant misunderstanding from the world around us can often leave us feeling that no one truly gets it. But within that loneliness lies a transformative truth: Community changes everything. When we connect with others who…