All the Pretty Zebras - a column by Lacy J. Rosenbaum

“Come on, Mom. It’s time for cheer practice.” It’s nearly dinnertime, and after an already busy day as a mother of four, wife, homemaker, and self-employed woman, I get ready to head out to another cheer practice, where I volunteer as the assistant coach, feeling beyond tired. I signed up…

I’m welcoming October this year not from my office chair, but from my husband’s recliner, with supportive pillows tucked behind my back and neck. I’m trying to listen to my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)-literate physical therapist and give my body the time and support it needs to heal from my…

I don’t have a degree in anatomy, but sometimes I wish I understood the inner workings of the muscles, fascia, joints, and ligaments better. Living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) has forced me to learn far more about my body than I ever expected to, usually the hard way.

You’re going about your day when, all of a sudden, it feels like your body has completely forgotten how to swallow properly, and you start choking. It’s been happening to me a lot lately! I might be doing housework or talking to someone, and I’ll inhale just as my throat…

The end of summer: bittersweet. The back-to-school rush: brutal! These last few weeks have been nothing short of a blurred whirlwind, not just physically exhausting, but emotionally draining as well. How is the new school year already upon us? I must have blinked, but my body is keeping the receipts…

Hello world, I’m Lacy Rosenbaum, your hot-off-the-press Ehlers-Danlos News columnist. I’m lucky enough to call a stunning corner of Montana home. It’s the kind of postcard beauty that makes you want to get out and explore — except there are far too many days when my body says no!…

I tend to get a little nervous before doctors’ appointments, whether they’re in person or virtual. One reason is that I want to make the most of the time I have. I want to be able to talk about my symptoms, discuss any new issues, and ask questions. I also…

Summer. A short, but cherished season here in Montana, land of long winters. As soon as the first warm day arrives and the sun shines brightly over our valleys, majestic mountains, and many lakes, I’m eager to get outside and make memories with my family! But I soon remember that…

A visit to the dentist can make anyone nervous. That’s certainly true for me, especially for my biannual cleanings. Almost every time I leave the dental hygienist’s chair, I don’t just have clean teeth; I also have a mouthful of painful micro-cuts, excessive bleeding, and an outbreak of awful canker…

As I sit here for the fourth hour at the infusion center, I feel a wave of gratitude wash over me. I’m thankful to have hydration and other infusion options to help me power through difficult days. It has taken me years to accept that I sometimes need supportive care…