Unshakable optimism

By Mike Matthews At the end of 2021, Cambridge Dictionary announced their Word of the Year was “perseverance.” On top of all the profound collective challenges that everyone is currently experiencing, the myositis community has the added personal crucible of managing a chronic disease for which there is no cure. Despite the best efforts of…

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Ten tips for living with IBM

By Mike Bradbury Having lived with IBM for more than 20 years, I have a few suggestions for making the journey easier. [Editor’s note: Most of these tips are good advice for anyone, even if you don’t live with a chronic health condition.] 1. Do your chores. As best you can, continue your normal routine,…

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Tesse Muldoon

Finding strength in the shadows

By Tesse Muldoon Myositis has had a profound impact on my life in many ways. After seven years of odd skin rashes and a number of other autoimmune conditions, I was diagnosed with cancer-associated dermatomyositis in 2017, and it drastically changed my path. Before becoming disabled, I was a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and was…

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Remembering Nori

By Julia Nickerson Noriel Cunanan lit up every room he entered. With his radiant smile and a generous, inspiring spirit, he brought energy and optimism wherever he went. A devoted friend, he always offered a helping hand, lifted spirits, and sparked fresh ideas. His battle with myositis began suddenly with a rash in late February…

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TMA was a game changer for me

Jenna Radke had dreamed about being a doctor when she was little, so she was shocked at the young age of 21 to find her body failing her. Jenna went on a trip to a destination wedding and was in so much joint pain that she could not see the local sights with her family….

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