One Thousand Flaming Swords — Claire Richmond

Rare diseases are tough to diagnose. But when it comes to acute hepatic porphyria (AHP), diagnosis is on a whole other level. On average, it takes 15 years to receive…

The emergency room was busier than I’d ever seen it, and due to severe acute porphyria attacks, I’ve been in that waiting room many times. I couldn’t get comfortable in the hospital-commissioned wheelchair,…

I live with acute hepatic porphyria (AHP), an inherited metabolic disorder that affects my liver function and my day-to-day life. By the time I got diagnosed with AHP six years ago, everyone…

It was warm on an early December afternoon, and the sand on the Florida Panhandle beach was white and so fine it sifted through my toes like flour. I was at the shore with…

Holiday hacks are tips to make the hustle and bustle of the holiday season easier. I can’t scroll through Instagram or turn on the TV now without coming across them. None mention the added…

From the recliner in the chemotherapy suite, I desperately looked around the room for any place of interest to focus my vision. I needed a distraction from the nurse perched on a stool in…

Last weekend, we barricaded our street and placed tables with chairs along the curb. The distant smell of hot dogs grilling filled the air as we staked little ghost decorations along the edge of…

My favorite room in our home is the three-seasons front porch. It overlooks the west side of our house, where, this summer, we planted a pollinator garden. Nine months out of the year, this…

On a sunny day last week, I was grateful for the energy to be able to enjoy an early autumn evening in the backyard. My partner sat in the patio swing and the kids…

I’ve heard people describe living with a chronic illness like acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) as a full-time job. But it requires much more than 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday. Between medication…

I was once in the hospital during the holiday season. At that time, I could only receive Panhematin infusions for an acute porphyria attack as an inpatient. I plugged my grandma’s ceramic,…

The day of my diagnosis was the first glimpse into my resiliency and willpower. That morning, my doctor called with test results indicating acute hepatic porphyria (AHP). Anger, sadness, fear, and wonder…