We recently launched a blog series about patients who’ve started (or are gearing up to launch) their own businesses, sparking a discussion around how to manage your health without giving up on your career goals. Say hello to Nancy (@spicerna), who sat down with us to discuss how she finds a balance between living with… Continue reading Patients at work: Member Nancy on being her own boss
Category: Patient Experiences
Member Susan shares about life with type 2 diabetes
Meet Susan (sugarpolicewoman) from Montgomery, Alabama. She loves birds, flowers and kittens and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes over 40 years ago. Check out her story to learn more about how she manages her condition while living in an assisted living facility. Can you tell us a little about yourself? What are your passions?… Continue reading Member Susan shares about life with type 2 diabetes
“Hope makes us strong.” Cathy opens up for National Family Caregivers Month
Are you a caregiver or do you know someone who cares for a loved one? For National Family Caregivers Month, we caught up with Cathy (Catrin), who became a caregiver for her husband after he was diagnosed with bulbar onset ALS in January of 2015. As she learns to manage the dual roles of wife… Continue reading “Hope makes us strong.” Cathy opens up for National Family Caregivers Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month: An interview with member Clare
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and to share some insight into what it’s like to live with this condition, we talked to member Clare (Riverdale). When she was diagnosed with non small-cell lung cancer, her husband was already living with prostate cancer. While supporting each other through chemotherapy and radiation, the couple has made… Continue reading Lung Cancer Awareness Month: An interview with member Clare
Barry shares his story for National Diabetes Month
November is National Diabetes Month, and this year, we caught up with Barry (bjf2000): history lover, grandfather and member of the diabetes community. Below, see what Barry says about his journey to diagnosis (“a flipping mess”), what it’s like to manage multiple conditions and becoming his own advocate. Tell us a little about yourself. What… Continue reading Barry shares his story for National Diabetes Month
“I’m still fighting for a good cause, just on a different battlefield” — Member Shanon opens up for Veterans Day
PTS member Shanon (sgreer) is a veteran of the US Army, and this Veterans Day, we’re sharing his story to honor those who’ve served and spread more awareness and understanding for the millions who are living with chronic conditions. Shanon is a police officer in Giddings, TX. When we caught up with him, he shared… Continue reading “I’m still fighting for a good cause, just on a different battlefield” — Member Shanon opens up for Veterans Day
“I have learned and grown from this and now I want to help others” — Iris shares her story for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, so we caught up with member Iris (Imartinez) to find out what living with this condition is really like. Iris opened up about getting diagnosed at just 28 years old, the challenges of her treatment journey and her passion for riding her motorcycle. For Iris, attitude is everything: “Having… Continue reading “I have learned and grown from this and now I want to help others” — Iris shares her story for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Patients as Partners: How Phyllis is bringing the patient perspective to future doctors
Team of Advisors member Phyllis is living with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) as well as Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In the latest edition of of our Partnership Principles series, she tells us how she works with med school students at the University of Pennsylvania in a patient shadowing program. The goal is to help the next generation… Continue reading Patients as Partners: How Phyllis is bringing the patient perspective to future doctors
Patients as Partners: An open letter from Craig to the “normals”
We’ve been hearing from members about their health journeys. For Craig, who’s living with fibromyalgia, it’s important to forge strong relationships with “normals,” or people who don’t know what it’s like to live with a chronic condition. By talking openly about illness, Craig believes, we can bring about more compassion and understanding for patients. Below, Craig… Continue reading Patients as Partners: An open letter from Craig to the “normals”
Patients as Partners: Member Peggy on the diagnosis journey (Part I)
Last week, Team of Advisors member Jeff kicked off a series of conversations about the Partnership Principles with his thoughts on partnering better with your care team. Today, Peggy digs deeper into one area where strong relationships are key: getting diagnosed. Peggy draws from her own experience with kidney cancer and breast cancer to answer… Continue reading Patients as Partners: Member Peggy on the diagnosis journey (Part I)