With beauty playing such a pivotal role in our society, women often are criticized for changes in their appearances. About 90% of lupus patients are women, which can make dealing with the disease more difficult. Lupus can wreak havoc on the body and change a person mentally and physically. While…
I have shared that, because of the quality and cost of healthcare in America, I decided to leave in hopes of finding more affordable healthcare. I sold all I own and moved to Thailand. Thailand has a wonderful culture, and the people here are amazing. It’s…
There are so many things to say and, though I’m certain this one column won’t completely suffice, I’ll do my best to turn my feelings into words. “Thank you” doesn’t quite cover it, but that’s where I’ll start. Because for many of you, it’s long overdue. I never…
Having lupus has meant a lot of things to my family. It’s meant weekly doctor visits, sleepless nights, missed choir and band performances, and too many cancelled vacations to count. When I wasn’t sick from lupus, I was working just to maintain my health insurance. Living with…
There are days when you have great energy and minimal pain, and then a flare pops up and changes everything. Your body lets you know about parts you didn’t know existed, and the only reason you found them is because they now hurt like mad. Recently, my body…
Have you ever had the feeling you were made for something? It’s more than just being passionate; it’s filling a void you didn’t know existed and a sense of belonging unlike any other. What if the thing you loved most was terrible for you in the worst…
This may date me, but who remembers the Christopher Cross song Ride Like The Wind? “It is the night, my body’s weak, I’m on the run, no time to sleep.  I’ve got to ride, ride like the wind, to be free again.” Those lyrics describe how I feel…
Being chronically ill is a lot of responsibility. I must make decisions consciously, as doing so may have repercussions, some of which may be serious. From going out with my friends, to eating or participating in sports, there isn’t a time I’m not solely responsible for my…
Even before my lupus diagnosis, my body has had amazing accuracy when forecasting the weather. For someone with arthritis, this becomes an unwanted superpower of sorts. Because when the rain hits, so  does the stiffness and pain in my joints. While painkillers can mask the excruciating painful limitations,…
How can I help create awesome memories in a home of your own? There were years spent telling people the value of their home as an appraiser, and then years helping people find the American dream of owning their own homes. I had a blast turning…