Allison Ross,  —

The Labor Day weekend was a good time to be alive. As an extrovert with a few days off work, I packed the calendar full of social activities, parties, and meals with friends. School and a busy work season are just around the corner, so I felt drawn to enjoy…

Another week, another doctor’s appointment, another stack of bills. Even my pillbox reflects it — each dosage carefully lined up, disappearing one day at at time, only for me to start the same thing over the following week. It’s an endless cycle. The vasculitis lifestyle is a unique one,…

I’ll never forget an irritating incident in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a few years ago. I was touring for my nonprofit, Violin for Vasculitis (now on hiatus due to the complexities of COVID-19). For this project, I would give a public music recital, share the story of my…

I can feel the ominous darkness gathering. I dread it. Usually, I hold authority over my reactions to emotion. Though sadness and hopelessness aren’t controllable, I’ve developed the tools to mitigate their heaviness. They’re all too common with a vasculitis diagnosis. The ominous dread is my mental state,…

One of my roommates moved out this week, so I’m spending all my free time cleaning house. It’s a lot of upheaval — boxes stacked in every available corner and on the dining room table, personal belongings misplaced, and a sense of general chaos. I know it’s temporary, but it…

It’s hard enough being a teenager. What’s worse is when you add a chronic illness to the equation. My particular vasculitis trajectory puts me in the minority. Many patients first show symptoms of inflammation in their 50s or 60s. But I fought for my life at 16, got…

Clear communication is crucial for all types of interactions. It’s the key to interpersonal relationships, business dealings, and artistic expression. But after a vasculitis diagnosis, it becomes even more imperative that a person knows how to convey their thoughts and needs. When I don’t feel well, it affects my…

I’ve always been an avid reader, with a focus on Victorian English and American literature in my younger years. In those tales, there seemed to be a common theme of the family sending an invalid relative to the seaside to recover from a chronic illness. Often those invalids would…

Summer is a fun time of year. Spirits are high, the pool is open, and the social calendars are full. Without the burden of driving in inclement weather, it’s simpler to go about our daily routine. In the Midwest, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who prefers the…

If you know me well, you know I’m a whiskey aficionado. Strong, smooth, spicy, sweet — I enjoy it all. When traveling, a bottle from a local distillery is usually the souvenir I choose to take home. There’s never been a time in my adult life when I didn’t drink.