Three months after my first child was born, I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease. Although sarcoidosis spontaneously remits in many cases, I developed a chronic form of the disease in multiple organs-- my brain, heart, lungs, liver, cranial nerves, lymph nodes, and bones. Becoming chronically ill at the same time that I am learning the ropes of motherhood has been like...
I was diagnosed in January of 2001 with systemic lupus at the age of 26. Determined not to let a chronic illness dictate my plans for the future, I refused to admit that my busy lifestyle and indomitable attitude were hindering my chances for a long, productive life. After four years of running my body into the ground, I realized I was fighting life, instead of living it. Thus, I made it my top...
