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For the first 28 years of my life, I played the part of an athlete, a straight-A student, and a fun, witty, and cute girl who thrived on being social. I knew how to blend in, run with the crowd, and make friends with ease. I never felt invisible. But…

I’m currently navigating a plethora of health challenges, including Gaucher disease and a recent diagnosis of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, all while raising an almost-2-year-old. So you might think my family and I were crazy for recently traveling across the world to the United States. And, honestly, maybe we…

Every time I go to the doctor with an injury, I’m asked the same question: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how much does it hurt?” I’ve always found this interesting, because how does someone quantify pain? I have always had an extremely high pain tolerance as someone…

When I was younger, I knew what an implanted port was, but my understanding of it was limited. Then, in 2010, I received a phone call that would change my life. I was told that I had been diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Gaucher disease and I’d…

In January 2025, I was scrolling through Instagram, trying to distract myself from the cold and the fact that I still couldn’t walk well on my leg, when I came across an influencer who had decided on a whim to fly to Paris with her friends. My first thought wasn’t,…

When you live with a chronic illness, you learn to pay attention to your body. You notice changes. You learn what is normal for you and what isn’t. You learn which symptoms can wait until your next appointment and which ones deserve a phone call to your doctor or…

It’s hard to believe August is almost over here. Summer is winding down, and my kids will soon start another school year. As a pediatric physical therapist working in a school, I’ve been fortunate to have my summers off with them for the last 20 years. Having this break gives…

I spent much of my childhood being chronically sick. I’m not talking about a sniffle here or there. I’m talking about being on the brink of death. It happened so often that my mother would joke that we were regulars at the emergency room. I had been diagnosed as a…

I live in a community where wellness is almost a language of its own. People swap sourdough starters, recommend herbal tinctures, and debate seed oils over coffee. Home births are celebrated. Organic food is the default. There’s a quiet belief that if you nourish your body well enough, move enough,…

It seems silly to write about a corner in my house. Most people walk by their cabinets every day without giving them a second thought. If they do, they might think, “I should clean this out today,” “I want new dishes,” or “Maybe we should remodel.” I never thought one…