Hurricane in Heels — a Column by Kellie McRae

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 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 3, 2020January 29, 2020

Staying Sane Through the Insanity

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

I sit here on day 11 of my first hospital stay of 2020. I’ve learned that pharmaceutical companies test how wide your esophagus will open to accommodate pills that ... Read more

January 20, 2020January 16, 2020

Pain and Paranoia Are Part of the Lupus Life

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

Picture it: It’s 2016, and life was good. I had hair. And then all of this unexplained pain ascended onto my body. I remember it like it was yesterday. ... Read more

January 13, 2020January 8, 2020

Have I Given Up? The Search for Joy in My Battle

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

I don’t make resolutions. It seems that now they have been replaced with mantras and buzzwords. However, my daughter asked me on New Year’s Day if I had something ... Read more

January 6, 2020January 2, 2020

Is Lupus My Calling? Figuring Out My Battle’s Purpose

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

When we were kids, a friend said that he wanted to be a doctor. He never deviated from his goal. He joined the Navy, became a medic, and has ... Read more

December 16, 2019December 12, 2019

I’m Doing My Best to Turn Adversity into Something Positive

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

I live in an area with a rich history. I am up the road from one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Yet I’ve never been. I live ... Read more

December 9, 2019December 6, 2019

I’m Living My Life in the Middle

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

I was fast asleep in the wee hours. I went to take a breath and could not. I tried again, only to be met with a sound that I ... Read more

December 2, 2019November 26, 2019

My Life Is Inconsistent Because of Fatigue

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

I was recently feeling a little tired but was still able to function. I went to breakfast with a friend on Saturday and struggled to sit up once I ... Read more

November 25, 2019November 20, 2019

I’m Sick of My Chronic Cough and Have Lost Faith in a Medical Solution

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

I’m frustrated with my body that causes me considerable discomfort and uncertainty. Since my diagnosis, I’ve had an average of four hospital stays a year. I have done my ... Read more