Black and Blue Ribbons
— Karen Del Vecchio

The last couple weeks have been exhausting. I’m a teacher, and the beginning of school is always an adjustment as students get settled into their classes and I learn their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. In addition to that, I’ve…

Historically, my pain-related issues and injuries have been more heavily located on my right side. My right ankle, hip, shoulder, and hand all have some sort of significant issue related to or made worse by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).

I swear, every year that I’m a teacher, it seems like the school days go by faster. It’s hard to believe students have been back in school for more than three weeks! When I realized last week that I…

With the second week of school behind me, I’m starting to get back into the rhythm of my teaching routine. I recently noticed that, on some days, the bottom of my foot near my heel is sore. This has…

After getting bodywork last week, my shoulder is thankfully improving after a recent pain flare. While I still don’t know what I did to aggravate it, I’m glad to be on the path to better comfort. I always…

Last week, I experienced some significant shoulder soreness. While that’s common in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, I also badly injured it when I was a teenager, and it hasn’t been quite right since. After my…

As a college counselor and teacher at a local high school, I’m glad I return to work a week earlier than the rest of the staff after summer break. My first week back is still on summer hours,…

I’m not sure how it’s August already. I’m a teacher and feel like school just finished for the year, and now this week I head back! This summer has been odd, as my horse Cherry has been off due…

I recently was able to escape the Southern heat for a few days and visit my grandparents and extended family up in New England. My dad has six siblings, and each summer and Christmas, everyone does their best…

To remove any doubt that summer is in full force, all you have to do is step outside. Like elsewhere across the country, temperatures here in Virginia have soared into the upper 90s, with the heat index…

As some of you may know, outside of being a high school teacher and college counselor, my life primarily revolves around animals. I live on a small, private farm where I help with chores and maintenance. That part-time job,…