Mariah’s Story: "When The Music Played, She Danced”
A family’s hardships and resilience in finding answers and getting a diagnosis for their child, after numerous tests, brain biopsies, and hospitalizations. And the relief but also grief in finally putting a name to the rare disease that affects their child: BCL11B-related disorder.
Organization Spotlight: Danon Foundation
The Danon Foundation boldly empowers people living with Danon disease, providing trusted information, resources and support to help navigate life, from diagnosis to treatment.
The Invisible Job: What Caregiving for a Rare Disease Really Looks Like
For many families, caregiving for a child with a rare or medically complex condition is a full-time job. The problem is, it’s a job with no training, no time off, and no clear job description. If you’re looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, you don’t have to search alone. Check out some of Paige’s favorite resources.
Gluten-Free Doesn't Always Mean Healthy: The Uncomfortable Truth Nobody Tells Celiacs
For most of celiacs, despite months on a strict GF diet, energy stays low and blood work reveals nutrient deficiencies. The lesson? A "gluten-free" label isn't a health guarantee—just a guarantee you'll pay more.
Research in Antibody-Caused Diseases: Seronegative NMOSD May Be MOG Antibody Disease
If you’ve been told you have seronegative NMOSD, there’s nearly 50/50 chance you have a different antibody causing your symptoms –MOG antibody.
Therapy Near Me
Therapy Near Me is a nationwide mental health service based in Australia, providing easy access to psychologists, counsellors, behaviour support practitioners and social workers.
Kidney Week 2025: New Research in Preserving Kidney Function
At the annual Kidney Week of the American Society of Nephrologists (ASN), the world’s largest kidney healthcare professional organization, new advances in research were highlighted. Over $35 million has been invested in research with the ASN, and there are many treatments in development for IgA Nephropathy (IgAN), with researchers actively investigating more than 20 different drugs.
Living with Celiac Disease: What They Don't Tell You at Diagnosis
When I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I thought avoiding bread and pasta would be enough. I quickly learned that living truly gluten-free is far more complex, and I'm sharing my experience to help newly diagnosed individuals understand what lies ahead.
Danon Disease and Eye Problems
Retinopathy is an eye problem that many people with Danon disease have. It can cause dark spots in the outer part of the eye, blurry or worse vision, and unusual test results on an eye exam. Sometimes these eye changes show up before heart problems, so an eye check can help find the disease early.
My Story: Kaya’s Light and the Call to Awareness
A heartfelt story about a mother who found purpose and strength among the tragedy of losing a child diagnosed with an ultra rare genetic disorder.
Organization Spotlight: Kaya Girl Legacy, Inc.
Kaya Girl Legacy, Inc. is a Florida-based nonprofit founded in memory of Kaya Humbert, a beautiful baby girl born with Sphingosine Phosphate Lyase Insufficiency Syndrome (SPLIS), one of 46 known cases worldwide. The foundation is dedicated to empowering families with knowledge about their genetic health and advocating for early access to genetic testing and rare disease awareness.
I Am Still Here: A Voice from the Rare Side
A prose poem by Jim Kuhn, a rare warrior living with Sarcoidosis, a rare inflammatory disease.
Halloween: Joyful Crip Time
Rare Mom Laura shares how her family’s prep for Halloween turned into a burst of familial love and creativity, as they all worked together in designing and building a costume for Alden, her medically complex son.
What Is Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) —and Why It Matters to Rare Families
Instead of starting with a newly discovered drug compound, PCOR is a type of research that starts by turning to patients and caregivers and asking, What matters most to you? What questions do we want answered? What symptoms do we wish were better managed? What keeps us up at night?
Living with Brugada Syndrome: Michael Grivas’ Story
Four years ago, Michael Grivas’ life suddenly changed when he learned that he had Brugada Syndrome, a genetic disorder in which the electrical activity of the heart is abnormal due to channelopathy. Learn more about his story.
Understanding Fatigue in IgAN: Causes and Management
Fatigue is a very common and often debilitating symptom of IgAN. It is linked to disease progression and reduced kidney function, but other factors like inflammation, anemia, and mental health also play a role. In a 2025 study, the majority of patients with IgAN reported fatigue, and patients with more severe proteinuria and lower kidney filtration rates (eGFR) experienced worse fatigue.
Accepting Help is Hard
Why is it so hard to accept help? Humans often associate help with weakness and loss of independence and control. However, if we reframe our thoughts, accepting help can be viewed as a form of empowerment: showing vulnerability and trusting someone to help us requires great strength.
Choosing What to Care About When Navigating a Rare Disease
There is so much mental load with having a rare disease. Rare Human Lindsay shares there are things she does not care about anymore, as she manages rare disease symptoms, specialists, and clinical trials.
Sharing the Silver Linings of Living with a Rare Disease
Rare Human Lindsay shares her "silver linings." It's not 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger,' instead it's what doesn't kill you makes you braver. She shares that she has found deeper connections with others, improved her ability to ask for and accept help, and not been as afraid of the word "no."