Columns

I used to be a distance runner. More accurately, I used to be a runner of a very defined distance. For years, I tried completing marathon training schedules, only to top off at about 16 or 17 miles. I could build endurance and strength, but I always seemed to…

In just a few days, our son Brady will be graduating from high school as part of the Class of 2023. It feels as though my heart will be wearing a cap and gown, crossing a stage, and accepting a well-deserved diploma. On a typical day, Brady’s passing wink and…

With the release of Netflix’s “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” on May 4, it seems like everyone’s talking about acute porphyria. “Queen Charlotte” explores a queen’s role in supporting a king whose mental illness is a nation’s secret. King George III is known for losing the American colonies…

Many aspects of life with acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) are a difficult adjustment. It was hard to get my diagnosis and accept that I’d have frequent attacks. It was hard to deal with periodic hospitalizations and medical PTSD. But it was only when I realized I…

As the mom of a 17-year-old son with erythropoietic protoporphyria and a staunch advocate for all porphyrias, I am blessed with some unexpected opportunities. These tend to happen in conjunction with international conferences organized to advance porphyria research and therapeutics. A recent trip to South Africa…

One night last week, the late-afternoon spring air hinted of summer, warm enough for me to imagine sitting on a patio with a mocktail. So my partner, Michael, and I layered on active gear, pumped up tires, and fastened our helmets. One of the great joys in our relationship…

Self-help writer Eckhart Tolle once shared his belief that “awareness is the greatest agent for change.” I hope that’ll be the case as the porphyria community prepares to celebrate its annual awareness initiative on April 19. We have many stories to tell about living with or caring…

Acute hepatic porphyria is characterized by episodes of intense pain and fatigue, and then windows of feeling decent. In the six short years I’ve managed the disease, I’ve noticed that my symptoms come in cycles. I’m currently in a period characterized by prolonged stretches of fatigue. I’ll remember…

I knew I was in rough shape when I opened my eyes to total darkness. My midday nap had bled solidly into the evening. It was the Monday after a weekend spent in Chicago, a five-hour drive away. My partner perched at the foot of the bed, a look…

In my column, “Hope in Action,” I write about porphyria and the lived experiences of those affected by this group of ultrarare diseases. But for Rare Disease Day today, I want to take a macro view of rare diseases. According to the National Organization for Rare…