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 in the air cools drastically and the temperature drops below freezing overnight. Now that I live…
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. He’d been diagnosed with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis in 2013, and his disease journey took…
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 place was our family home, housing much laughter, tears, and peace. History seeps through the walls,…
It’s summer here in Auckland, New Zealand, and as I look out the window at my weed-filled lawn, not only am I reminded that the grass needs mowing again, but also how time flies without qualms or quandary. It’s been 19 months since I lost my husband, Aubrey, to…
I recently had the pleasure of attending an Amyloidosis Alliance conference in Madrid, which brought together advocates from around the world who serve the transthyretin amyloidosis community. This includes the familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) and amyloid light chain or primary amyloidosis communities. Attendees discussed the…
It has been 17 months since my husband, Aubrey, passed away due to complications of hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. Following his diagnosis in 2013, Aubrey’s journey was wrought with many untold challenges. His pain and struggle were visible to our family, including our four children. As his wife…
On Sunday, March 19, I appeared on New Zealand’s 1News to discuss my journey as a caregiver to my late husband, Aubrey, who had hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. I now face the reality that any of our four children could have the genetic mutation that causes the…
This column has been a year in the making. When my late husband, Aubrey, passed away in May 2022 from hereditary ATTR amyloidosis, I couldn’t articulate my thoughts and feelings to paper or screen. Instead, my mind was filled with questions about how to move forward as a…
In the blink of an eye, we’re already approaching the third month of 2023. For me, the ushering in of a new year came with poignancy and a new aspiration to do better as I move forward into a future without a beloved family member. My husband, Aubrey, passed…
I have previously written about the importance of staying positive despite our circumstances. Whether you are a patient or a caregiver to a loved one with a chronic illness, keeping yourself above the waterline to avoid drowning in your circumstances is essential. As the legendary basketball player Michael…