Living

From the beginning of my NMO diagnosis until now, I’ve recorded every major portion of my rare disease health journey - from the doctors telling me I have an NMOSD...

Prior to my NMO diagnosis, I never took my mental health seriously. I was always told by doctors to basically "get over it" and that "things will get better." But...

It was pre-pandemic when I decided to start sharing my NMO story on social media. I started sharing my story online because I was getting tired of people asking what...

I began painting in late 2017, shortly after experiencing a catastrophic episode of vision loss due to bilateral optic neuritis. Since then, my vision and physical capabilities have diminished quite...

There was a shift in my behavior in August 2021. From being sad, weepy, and depressed, I found this community of people with Neuromyelitis Optica and was glued to neuromyelitis-optica.net. First...

For months I was experiencing an increase in my NMO symptoms. While I communicated this to my neurologist, I had no new lesions to back up a new acute treatment...

It has been a whole year since I’ve been on rituximab as my NMO preventative treatment. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have this treatment available to me for...

Being diagnosed with NMO, I’m sure we've all felt and heard from our peers that what was happening to us wasn’t real. For lack of a better phrase, everyone thinks...

I watched the YouTube makeup artist Tallia through her entire journey from the minute she posted her first video to the very last. I watched her whole story unfold right...

I had just gotten out of the hospital. I informed my daughter that 2nd dose of the Corona vaccine had triggered the NMO. Now, my immune system, which was supposed...

After being diagnosed with NMO, change has been very scary to me. It took more of my vision with every attack. With each bit of vision loss, I started to...

Something never felt quite right when I was diagnosed with NMO at 19. This was before I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder. Part of the NMO diagnosis process meant...

With all honesty, the day I was told I would receive the rituximab infusion every six months, I thought it would fix all my problems caused by NMOSD. My neurologist...

Prior to being diagnosed with NMO, I didn’t have many artistic hobbies. Meaning when I tried to do anything in art class - like paint, draw, pottery, or anything else...

My daughter was 2.5 years old when we left Australia. She, her daddy, and I returned to our hometown in India in 2016. Post that, she was and is the...

It has been almost three years since I’ve had any real exams in school. For the past two years, due to Covid and my NMO diagnosis, I did not have...

Not everyone diagnosed with Neuromyelitis Optica, or NMO, will need to use a wheelchair. However, some people do become full-time wheelchair users, and some people, like me, might use a...

Postpartum is a roller coaster of emotions for most mothers after giving birth. Some can manage on their own. Others need a bit more help to get through. I certainly...

About 1 in 4 American adults live with a disability. Many people living with a disability are able to work and do. For those with an "invisible" illness, or one...