Columns

On Saturday, I will turn 39 years old. Six years ago, I wasn’t sure what my life would look like after being diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma. Every year since my transsphenoidal surgery, I reflect on my personal growth. It has taken me about five years post-op for…

One of the hardest emotions to deal with is grief. Processing loss is difficult. Two weeks ago, I lost a great friend and supporter when my mother-in-law, Felicia Jearlds, lost her battle with cancer. I dedicate this column to her loving memory. In my career, I often work with…

One thing from my childhood that sticks out to me were Saturday mornings. If I wasn’t playing ball, then I was helping my parents do yardwork. My mother had an area on the side of our home where she had different plants. After my brother and I finished cutting the…

In one of the Cushing’s disease support groups I belong to, I recently saw a question about what to expect during transsphenoidal surgery and the Gamma Knife procedure, two procedures used to remove or treat tumors. It just so happens that I have experienced both. If you are…

Having a rare disease is a struggle, and sometimes I feel alone, like nobody understands me. Luckily, when I was going through Cushing’s disease, my fiancé and now husband, Logan, provided me with emotional support. It was difficult on both of us. While I was experiencing physical pain, my hormones…

For the past 13 years, the superhero genre has taken over cinema and given us some of the best experiences at the movies. I am a huge fan of superhero movies. This got me thinking about the criteria for being a superhero and whether it is the same for being…

First, let me start by saying depression sucks. There is nothing fun, likable, or enjoyable about it. Depression is an illness no one is immune to. It can be very easy to fall into, and even more difficult to get out of without the right help. Depression can be…

Fear is one of the most paralyzing feelings we can encounter. It forces us to make certain decisions, whether we want to or not. It feeds on our emotions, hoping we will crumble. There are many reasons why someone might be experiencing fear, but for me, it was prompted…

The work I do in the field of mental health is unique and rewarding. Every day, I get to speak with people. Sometimes the conversations are good, and sometimes they are a learning experience. I have noticed that everyone has one thing in common, regardless of their education, socioeconomic status,…

Living with and understanding an illness can be difficult. The last thing people with health issues need is for their daily interactions to also be difficult. It’s impossible to know what everyone is going through, so I don’t expect others to know everything about my journey with Cushing’s disease.