Walking On Water - a Column by Shalana Jordan

Shalana “Shay" Jordan is a single mom of two boys who's been adjusting to her “new normal" of aHUS for over two years. She also battles with Stage 4 Kidney Disease, Lupus, May-Thurner Syndrome, and severe Anemia. She wants to take part in helping fellow rare disease patients adjust to and prepare for the new life that’s unfolding for them. Because life does end at diagnosis. Shay also enjoys women’s health education, fiction writing, patient advocacy, photography, cruises, and international travel. She lives in South Carolina with her two boys.

Star fruit dangers: An innocent treat is a threat to the kidneys

Star fruit: It’s sweet, crisp, bright, refreshing and, for me, potentially deadly. Starbucks’ Kiwi Starfruit Refreshers (now discontinued), star fruit margaritas, or any other star fruit treats I once enjoyed are all a “no” for me now. Sadly, the fruit, also known as carambola, is something I just can’t…

Getting diagnosed was only the beginning of my aHUS journey

Thrombocytopenia, liver failure and hematoma, hysterectomy, end-stage renal disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, uncontrolled hypertension, chemotherapy-like side effects, muscle atrophy, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic fatigue, edema, May-Thurner syndrome, nerve damage, and anemia. That’s a “quick” list of the comorbidities that accompanied my atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Being diagnosed with a…

Handling the financial burdens of a chronic illness, part 2

Second in a series. Read part one. Which is more important, your cellphone or your internet? That can be a tough decision, driven by finances and circumstances. On one hand, imagine you have a chronic illness and you need a phone for emergencies. On the other, imagine your phone…

Handling the financial burdens of a chronic illness, part 1

This column is the first in a three-part series about the financial burdens of rare diseases and chronic illnesses. $1.3 million. $1,500. $84,000. Those are some of the costs I was left with when I nearly died of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) in 2020. My hospital bill for…

Losing your career and income can mean losing your identity

In American society, work life is a huge part of our culture. Many of us are pushed to complete primary school, attend higher education, and start a career, in which we’re expected to work until full retirement age. According to the Social Security Administration, that should be age 67…

Masking helps hide the effects of CKD and aHUS, even from myself

Long, voluminous, deep brown wigs; charcoal eyeliner; fluffy eyelashes and lash glue; sparkly rich tones of russet and copper eyeshadow; shaped and ombre drawn eyebrows; blood red lipstick coated in shiny gloss; perfectly manicured, gold glitter acrylic overlay on my nails; and beautiful, flirty sundresses: I use them all to…