Columns

April 1, 2021March 30, 2021

I Celebrate and Grieve on the Anniversary of My Diagnosis

Columns, Veni, Vidi, Vascie – a Column by Suzanne DePaolis

What is your diagnosis day? Mine is April 1, 2007. There was irony in finding out I had a life-altering, incurable illness on April Fools’ Day. I accused my doctor ... Read more

March 18, 2021March 16, 2021

When Long-term Corticosteroid Treatment Lands You in the ‘Predni-zone’

Columns, Veni, Vidi, Vascie – a Column by Suzanne DePaolis

“You are about to enter another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a not-so-wondrous land of side effects. … Next stop: ... Read more

March 11, 2021March 9, 2021

Why I Stay in Bed Just a Little Longer Each Day

Columns, Veni, Vidi, Vascie – a Column by Suzanne DePaolis

Some days, I wake up and never want to leave the comfort of my bed. I don’t want to get up and struggle through the day. I don’t want to ... Read more

March 2, 2021February 26, 2021

It’s a Little More Complicated Than ‘Age Is Just a Number’

(In)visible Journey – a Column by Sandra Ross, Columns

“You’re only as old as you feel,” as the saying goes. Unfortunately, since being diagnosed in 2001 with granulomatosis with polyangiitis at age 19, I’ve always felt older than I actually ... Read more

February 25, 2021February 23, 2021

Becoming Rare: From Diagnosis to Acceptance, to Advocacy

Columns, Veni, Vidi, Vascie – a Column by Suzanne DePaolis

Rare is steak cooked to an internal temperature of 120 to 130 F. Rare are opals found in the Nevada desert. Rare is finding out who left the toilet paper ... Read more

February 18, 2021February 16, 2021

How an RV Helped Us Solve COVID-19 Travel Dilemmas

Columns, Veni, Vidi, Vascie – a Column by Suzanne DePaolis

Last summer, my husband and I bought an RV to drive across the U.S. to see my dad. My mom died last spring, and we hadn’t yet traveled to visit ... Read more

February 11, 2021February 9, 2021

Pharmacists Are My Unsung Heroes of the Medical Profession

Columns, Veni, Vidi, Vascie – a Column by Suzanne DePaolis

I have a rare illness called eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, or EGPA. It causes an increased number of white blood cells known as eosinophils, which can cause significant inflammation in ... Read more

February 4, 2021February 1, 2021

How Constant Positivity Can Harm Our Emotional Well-being

Columns, Veni, Vidi, Vascie – a Column by Suzanne DePaolis

A positive attitude has helped me get up each day and face the world. I know I feel stronger and ready to take on the planet this way. I can ... Read more

January 28, 2021January 26, 2021

I’m Proud to Be a Face Mask Trendsetter

Columns, Veni, Vidi, Vascie – a Column by Suzanne DePaolis

I never expected that wearing masks while I traveled would be my trendsetting mark on the world. I never expected the world to join me in wearing masks during cold ... Read more

January 26, 2021January 22, 2021

My Anxiety Is Debilitating, but One Day I Will Overcome It

(In)visible Journey – a Column by Sandra Ross, Columns

Battling an autoimmune condition is difficult enough, but when my own brain decides to work against me, it can be even more challenging. Anxiety is one of my biggest foes, ... Read more