The Ups and Downs of Sleeplessness
Has the COVID-19 pandemic been keeping all of us up at night? According to an online forum by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reported on by The Harvard Gazette, the pandemic has resulted in a…
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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Warm Weather Brings Both Discomfort and Gratitude
We have had warm summer weather here in Auckland, New Zealand, the City of Sails. It’s been clear and sunny, and many are hitting the beaches just 20 minutes from us. People are…
As a Caregiver, I Want to Be Mindful When Misunderstandings Happen
A few days before the new year, I cleaned my backyard deck and accidentally toppled a cactus plant onto my foot. While I walked away relatively unscathed, a week later, I noticed that tiny bumps had appeared where the…
We Must Make Lasting Memories, Through Whatever Trials We Face
Our Christmas tree is almost 24 years old, and it has traveled the world with us. I still remember the day I went shopping for it. We lived in St. Paul, Minnesota, at that time, and on a…
I’m Heading Into the New Year With an Attitude of Gratitude
As we head into the Christmas season, I want to be mindful that not all of my readers celebrate the holiday. Additionally, I know not everyone is looking forward to the holidays. Still, I want to encourage all of…
I’m Bringing Christmas Joy, Despite the Challenges We Face
I am adamant about not letting the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing issues with my husband’s health dampen our Christmas spirit. This year, I have decided to do a little more to observe the holiday. As a faith-based…
Finding Meaning in Life With a Genetic Disease
My husband Aubrey’s hereditary ATTR amyloidosis journey is included in a forthcoming book titled “Rare Disease Drug Development: Clinical, Scientific, Patient, and Caregiver Perspectives.” He feels very touched that the editor saw fit to reach out to…
I’m Embracing Optimism as We Approach the New Year
2021 has been a character-building year for me. I experienced challenges like never before, and I’m not just referring to the ones associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, I suffered the loss of my mother, my beloved…
Why Intentionality Matters When Spending Time With an Ill Loved One
I spent half the morning figuring out our plan for Christmas. In recent years, it’s been a tradition for the whole family — including pets and my children’s partners — to go away for the holidays. We would book…
Staying Hopeful as a Caregiver While Confronting the Important Issues
This is my 48th column since I began this providential opportunity as a writer at FAP News Today. To be given the platform to share my journey as a caregiver to a husband who is afflicted with hATTR…
I’ve Experienced 3 Phases of Caregiving
Life experience plays an integral role in shaping our behavior and thinking. I have come a long way from being an unsettled 18-year-old to a wiser and more focused woman in her 50s. Looking back, I see how the…
Even Before the Pandemic, We Knew Social Distancing and Isolation
New Zealand was largely able to avoid the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, until now. The contagious nature of the delta variant and the high number of cases have placed many people on edge here in Auckland, where my…
