Columns

March 16, 2020March 12, 2020

Friends and Strangers Kept Me Sane While I Was Hospitalized

Columns, Hurricane in Heels -- a Column by Kellie McRae

When I recently was admitted to the hospital, I had no idea it would be for two weeks. But after hearing the list of reasons for my admission, I ... Read more

March 13, 2020March 11, 2020

The Smell of Hand Sanitizer Provokes Traumatic Hospital Memories

Columns, The Girl Who Cried Wolf - A Column by Kristi Page

It’s funny how the mind processes things. When I think about my hospital admission prior to my 2016 lupus diagnosis, I automatically identify it as a traumatic experience. But ... Read more

March 9, 2020March 5, 2020

I Am Slowly Shifting My Mindset

Columns, Hurricane in Heels -- a Column by Kellie McRae

Sometimes, I forget that I have lupus. Is that weird? I have spent so much time pushing my body and telling myself that many of the things I can ... Read more

March 2, 2020February 27, 2020

I’ve Decided to Face Forward with a New Outlook

Columns, Hurricane in Heels -- a Column by Kellie McRae

It’s been an interesting couple of months. I have learned, endured, and accepted (I hope) a lot. I am always doing checks and balances with my mental health, working ... Read more

February 24, 2020February 20, 2020

My Spirit Is Broken on My Road to Recovery

Columns, Hurricane in Heels -- a Column by Kellie McRae

I was lulled into thinking that I could give American healthcare another chance. I had a 14-day stay at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Florida, where ... Read more

February 21, 2020February 19, 2020

While I Am Napping Time Is Passing Me By

Columns, The Girl Who Cried Wolf - A Column by Kristi Page

No matter what happens, the world keeps turning. It doesn’t stop for moments of happiness or moments of heartache. Sometimes I wish it would come to a halt. Not ... Read more

February 17, 2020February 13, 2020

Where Are the Manuals for Life?

Columns, Hurricane in Heels -- a Column by Kellie McRae

People tease about how there are no manuals for rearing kids. Well, there is no manual on how to navigate an illness like lupus, either. Everyone is simply winging ... Read more

February 14, 2020February 13, 2020

Throwing Myself off the Edge with Lupus

Columns, The Girl Who Cried Wolf - A Column by Kristi Page

Lupus is my greatest motivator and most consistent catalyst for change. Its ability to uproot my life at any time has the potential to be devastating. But with the ... Read more

February 10, 2020February 9, 2020

When Healthcare Professionals Truly Care

Columns, Hurricane in Heels -- a Column by Kellie McRae

A routine visit with my primary care doctor turned into the biggest reality check of my life. It led to a two-week hospital stay followed by a move to ... Read more

February 7, 2020February 5, 2020

Goal Setting Is Different with Lupus, and That’s OK

Columns, The Girl Who Cried Wolf - A Column by Kristi Page

I write this in the middle of nowhere, sitting in a camp chair next to a mountain. Over a year ago, my partner, Jordan, and I set out plans to ... Read more