Black and Blue Ribbons
— Karen Del Vecchio

invisible

An avid equestrian and educator based in Virginia, Karen Del Vecchio was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in 2009 after years searching for a diagnosis that explained her symptoms. Since her diagnosis at the Johns Hopkins Connective Tissues Disorder Clinic, she has worked to find ways to manage her symptoms while still maintaining an active lifestyle. 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 writing.

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Are fatigue, pain, and soreness an EDS flare-up or a winter illness?

It’s that time of year when it seems as if everyone is getting sick with something, especially at school. Kids are out with colds, the flu, COVID-19, strep throat, and more. Some days it feels like we’re living in a petri dish, as we teachers douse ourselves with hand sanitizer…

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Massage Is a Critical Component of My Healing

Sometimes, we may have so many levels of embedded issues that it can be difficult to know where to start. For my horse Arti and me, massage and acupressure were critical to physical recovery. I don’t remember how I stumbled upon my first massage therapist, but I’m thankful…

Columns

Learning Patience with a Racehorse Named Artica

To know me, it’s important that you know a bit about my past and the journey to my current style of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) management. So, in my next few columns, I’ll cover my history and how various experiences helped me learn the ways I manage EDS. One…

Columns

My 22-year Journey to Diagnosis

Ten years ago, at age 22, I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS). I’d known there was something “wrong” with me long before I was 22, but despite having a doctor in the family who had been trying to figure out the mystery with several colleagues since I was…


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