An automated message from LinkedIn recently reminded me that it’s been five years since I started my role as a patient advocate at the New Zealand Amyloidosis Patients Association (NZAPA). I didn’t become an advocate because it was a lifelong ambition, but rather out of necessity. My late husband,…
It’s been nearly a month since the charity I lead, the New Zealand Amyloidosis Patients Association (NZAPA), held a conference for patients and caregivers. The two-day event was made possible by the active participation of those living with various types of amyloidosis, including hereditary ATTR (hATTR), wild-type, and AL…
Here in New Zealand, clinicians and advocates are pushing our country’s government to update its genetic editing and modification legislation. Historically, New Zealand has maintained some of the strictest gene technology regulations globally. Currently, genetic modification is heavily regulated under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act…
Through my roles as a caregiver for my late husband, Aubrey, and as an amyloidosis patient advocate, I’ve been transformed. I once assumed that my life would involve being a wife and stay-at-home mother, with a happy home and a couple of pets to boot. But I became disgruntled…
The daily life of a familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) caregiver isn’t always one of set routines. With the nature of the ailment and its painful peripheral neuropathy symptoms, there will be days when new issues arise or symptoms become more severe. Some of these problems may be unforeseen,…
In my last column, I mentioned that my mother-in-law was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She already suffers from the symptoms of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), including itching and burning sensations in her hands and feet. The pain of her neuropathy symptoms makes it hard for her to walk…
For neuropathy patients and caregivers, having a purpose in life may go a long way toward helping us manage peripheral neuropathy. Many familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) patients and caregivers, however, are forced to put a great deal of focus on simply surviving. My mother-in-law has tingling and burning…
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 backyard doors are open. View of the Waikato region in New Zealand. (Photo by Jaime…
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 Christmas celebrates with her son Joshua at his college graduation ceremony this month. (Courtesy of 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 of these diseases have no approved treatment. These numbers underscore the urgent need for more research…