Moving into a new season of life with happiness
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. My late husband, Aubrey, and…
Sunrise Sunset — Jaime Christmas
Jaime Christmas is a patient advocate and columnist based in Auckland, New Zealand, with her cheeky doggie, Akira. She was a caregiver to a spouse who was afflicted with hATTR amyloidosis. Now she fights for equitable treatment and support for diagnosed patients and their caregivers. Although she now lives without the daily challenges of being a caregiver since her husband’s passing in 2022, she hopes to be still an encourager and listening ear to those presently walking the journey she knows only too well.
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4 lessons I learned while caregiving for a chronically ill spouse
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 a relationship wrought with…
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Our local association has a part to play in World Amyloidosis Day
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 with our global community. Your…
How I’m living a purpose-driven life after losing my husband
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 disease. We’re receiving more emails…
Finding purpose helped me navigate grief after losing my husband
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…
How I’m striving to be happy, and succeeding, years after a loss
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…
Leaving the home where I raised a family and served as caregiver
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,…
Finding happiness in life after the loss of my husband
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…
My continued advocacy will lead to new amyloidosis treatment in N.Z.
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…
Why communication is important for amyloidosis patients, caregivers
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…
My late husband left behind a legacy of goodness
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…
A year later, I’m ready to move forward after the loss
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…
