Sunrise Sunset — Jaime Christmas

It’s another stunning summer day here in New Zealand’s Waikato region. We’ve been blessed all week with clear skies and a warm breeze blowing through the house, as the blinds are drawn up and the…

December is a month of university graduation here in New Zealand. All the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears conclude in a cacophony of salutations and shouts of joy from family members. Jaime…

According to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, there are more than 7,000 rare genetic diseases in the world, mostly affecting children. Additionally, about 300 million people worldwide live with a rare disease, and most…

As a columnist for FAP News Today since October 2020, I’ve written about various topics, all related to my experience caring for a spouse who had hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. My columns…

My late husband, Aubrey, was diagnosed with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis in 2013 and passed away on May 22, 2022. Those nine years were spent transitioning from having harmony in our marriage to navigating…

Over a year ago, I met someone. Darren James came into my life at a point when I was questioning whether I could build a life with another man after losing a spouse.

Oct. 26 isn’t just another day; it’s World Amyloidosis Day. As a leader of the New Zealand Amyloidosis Patients Association, I’m excited to use this day to raise awareness in our country and unite…

Since January, the amyloidosis association I lead here in New Zealand has seen our patient numbers grow like never before, primarily because of newer diagnostic tools and more awareness among doctors about the…

It’s winter here in New Zealand. I woke up to a thin sheet of ice covering the deck, staying frozen just long enough to glint in the morning sun. That happens when moisture trapped…

I’m happy. That’s the best way to describe my state at this stage of my life. When my husband, Aubrey, passed away on May 22, 2022, my whole world was stirred and uprooted.

I’ve moved! It’s exciting, but the move was daunting because of the sheer amount of work that went into clearing out items from a place where my children grew up from 2007 onward. This…