Going off to college is an exciting time, filled with new adventures and much more freedom, both personally and academically. However, it can also come with numerous challenges, particularly for students with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and related conditions. On the positive side, increased independence means students with EDS may be able to manage some […]
I live with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and Sjogren’s. Over the years, I’ve undergone more than 40 surgeries, including spinal fusions and brain surgery, many performed while raising my son alone. My son was born 11 weeks early and spent 63 days in the NICU. We […]
You hear a cat meowing as you walk past your neighbor’s apartment. Your lease says you can’t have any animals—she’s going to be in big trouble if the property manager finds out. You visit your grandmother in the rehab hospital, and she’s holding a bunny rabbit and smiling widely. At dinner that night with your […]
In last month’s article, “4 Tips on How To Navigate School as a Student with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome,” we took a very subjective look at the issue of attending high school while living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. This month, we wanted to hear from two teens navigating the school system with EDS, Amicie Koslow and Lily Hirschson. […]
Please note: the author is based in the United States, so these are resources available in the US. Check with your school or local government education office or website for processes available in your country. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the law in the United States that ensures every child in public […]
Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) as a high school student can be especially challenging. The normal struggle of balancing academics, extracurriculars, and social life, all while trying to figure out who you are as a person, is overwhelming for most teenagers and is made more complicated when having to manage a chronic illness. Many times, […]
I want to be okay. Some days I am. But some days, it feels like my words slosh about disjointed. My eyelids are heavy shades that won’t stay open. Pain suffuses every joint in my body, and the throbbing in my head makes it impossible to tolerate light or noise. Day-to-day is unpredictable, sometimes moment […]