Posts by: Karen Del Vecchio

Karen Del Vecchio

An avid equestrian and educator, Karen has been a columnist at BioNews since 2019. She was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in 2009 after a years-long search for a diagnosis that explained her symptoms. Karen enjoys working with her students, riding and caring for her two horses, Cherry and Spotty, and connecting with others in the rare disease community through her work with BioNews.

June 23, 2020June 19, 2020

Patience and Horse Training Pay Off for My Body’s Physical Challenges

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

One of the great things about horseback riding is that when done correctly, it requires an enormous amount of body awareness. While many people see a person riding and ... Read more

June 16, 2020June 12, 2020

Why Do I Mentally Frame My EDS the Way I Do?

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

I realized earlier that I don’t often think of myself as having EDS. It’s not that I don’t recognize or accept that I have it, but that I rarely ... Read more

June 9, 2020June 5, 2020

Are Blisters Part of My EDS?

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Wow, did summer sure decide to turn on its furnace overnight here in Virginia. A day ago, it was in the mid-70s and perfect, and today it was 92 ... Read more

June 2, 2020May 29, 2020

Adjusting to a Temporary New Normal

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Last week, I was able to see my massage therapist for the first time in over three months due to the pandemic. About 10 years ago, I learned that ... Read more

May 26, 2020May 21, 2020

Letting Go of People’s Nosy Comments

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

One thing that’s both particularly difficult as well as sometimes wonderful about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is that, for the most part, it’s invisible. Except for my bruising, if you ... Read more

May 19, 2020May 15, 2020

Managing Setbacks Through Realistic Positivity

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Last week, I got some disappointing news. My horse Cherry somehow managed to fracture a bone in her foot. She was fine one day, and then the next she ... Read more

May 12, 2020May 8, 2020

Learning to Manage My Compensations

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is strange. Like many rare diseases, it’s unique to each person. For example, different types of injuries present variables in how a disease manifests. Since many ... Read more

May 5, 2020April 30, 2020

I’m Trying to Make Lemon Pie

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Like many others, I’ve been forced to accept the current situation as our “new normal” for the foreseeable future. On most days, I get up, take care of the ... Read more

April 28, 2020April 23, 2020

How I Manage Chronic Pain During a Pandemic

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

I’m pretty sure this is the longest I’ve gone without a massage since I learned that they’re critical to my pain management and well-being. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that ... Read more

April 21, 2020April 16, 2020

Finding Positivity in Cooking

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

As I wrote in a recent column, one upside to all the extra time spent at home is that I’ve gotten to spend more time on activities I really ... Read more

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