Columns

Shhhhhh! Today is my husband’s birthday. I’m throwing him a surprise party, and you’re all invited! In fact, you’re already here, because it’s virtual and I’m hosting it remotely. So let’s get planning … Editors: Hide behind the colon. Friends and family (who loyally read my column) can all conceal…

It’s just about two more weeks until Easter. I am, of course, looking forward to the annual celebration of the greatest miracle of all time. But due to the sorry state of my spiritual development, I’m also counting down the days until we return to our vices. Long before I…

My wise old grandfather used to say, “You’ll know you’re old when your priest and your doctor are younger than you.” And so it has come to pass. My husband, Ronald, and I noticed it a while ago, actually. Not only that, even the bishop and the medical specialists are…

Here we are again, recovering from the annual biological burglary of daylight saving time. It snuck into our home a week ago, in the wee hours between Saturday night and Sunday morning, and made off with a perfectly good hour while we slept. As if we wouldn’t notice. Ha! The…

The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not reflect those of aHUS News or its parent company, Bionews. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider if you have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. In March 2020, we hunkered down along…

Dealing with a rare disease diagnosis is often referred to as a journey. It may be toward a cure or to new ways of coping. It may include actual travel to meet with specialists, receive experimental treatment, or participate in clinical trials. Or it may preclude physical excursions, as…

We have been hearing a lot lately about essential workers. There is much praise for the front-line heroes who protect and save lives. You know the ones: the doctors, nurses, and EMTs. They are the ones who wear spiffy uniforms with official badges and command authority and respect due…

It is a familiar adage that those who give care often neglect to take care of themselves. They may feel, in comparison to their charges, that their needs are smaller or less pressing. Or, after long hours of tending to the needs of others, they may simply lack time…

Everyone likes the idea of a winning lottery ticket, a get-rich-quick scheme, or a get-out-of-jail-free card. But most of us recognize that these concepts are typically fantasies at best and frauds at worst. We may play along, buying a raffle ticket for a good cause or risking a buck or…

Because of my husband’s rare disease, I have spent significant time and effort advocating for his care. Since the onset of his aHUS, his job has been to follow doctors’ orders. Mine is to question them — and those of the insurance companies, pharmacists, and others. The role…