About six months ago, I moved to a new state. After the move, I even wrote a blog explaining what patients with a chronic illness should do before relocating. One of my top pieces of advice was simple: Make sure you already have a doctor lined up in your new location. Good advice, right? Well, let's just say I'm very good at giving advice that I don't always follow myself. [More]

I will never forget the day in 2019 when I was diagnosed with common variable immune deficiency (CVID). I was caught off guard! Even though I had lots of infections throughout my life, I had never been hospitalized. With my diagnosis, I felt like I was on an island, stranded alone with no clear understanding of what it meant for the future of my health. [More]

I am not a naturally bossy person. In fact, I dislike being in charge or telling people what to do and would much rather take orders than hand them out. Even when it comes to my health, I have a hard time steering the ship. I’ve repeatedly found myself accepting doctors’ assessments and heeding their orders rather than pushing for diagnostic tests or asking for a second opinion. Speaking up for myself doesn’t come naturally. [More]

Patient advocate Abbie Cornett shares practical ways to approach spring cleaning while living with a chronic illness, offering realistic strategies for creating a comfortable home without sacrificing health or energy. [More]

Unpopular opinion: I don’t like New Year’s.
I like the idea of a fresh start, but the truth is I feel a lot of pressure when New Year’s Eve rolls around. Picking a word for the year; making resolutions; setting goals — the emphasis on improving oneself sends me the message that I failed, again, and that last year wasn’t all that great. If I can just get my act together, this next year will be different. Better. [More]

This year, Christmas is going to look very different for me. It’s the first year that two of my three children won’t be home, and I’ll be honest, I’m fighting the urge to skip the tree, ignore the calendar and just pretend Christmas isn’t happening. Some of that feeling comes from the amount of work it takes to pull off the holidays, but the deeper reason is sadness because things are changing. I am having a hard time imagining quiet in a house once filled with noise and chaos.
But as tempting as it is to hide under a blanket until January, I know that isn’t fair to my husband or my youngest daughter. They deserve a good holiday. What I’m learning, though, is that a good holiday doesn’t have to look like every year before, nor does it have to be a giant production filled with late-night wrapping sessions, elaborate meals and days of preparation. It can be good without exhausting ourselves in the process. [More]

Does saying thank you come easily to you, or do you struggle to express your gratitude? Expressing thanks might seem like an insignificant, almost automatic reflex for those of us who were taught to mind our manners. How many times did your mother ask, “What do we say?” to train you to say thank you without thinking? [More]

If health matters to you, it probably matters deeply. But caring isn’t the same as creating change. Systems are complex, decisions are opaque and the people most affected often have the least say. Still, you don’t need credentials to lead. You just need clarity, connection and a reason to speak when others stay quiet. Turning your passion into advocacy starts where you are. [More]