Black and Blue Ribbons – a Column by Karen Del Vecchio

November 21, 2019November 19, 2019

Taking Time to Recharge

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

Summer and fall have been a nonstop whirlwind. A few weeks after graduation (I work as a college counselor at a private high school), the owner of the farm ... Read more

November 14, 2019November 12, 2019

Will Safety Vest Draw Attention to My EDS?

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

In the equestrian sport of eventing, we use a lot of gear. One piece of that puzzle is the safety gear we wear, particularly in the cross-country phase, where ... Read more

November 7, 2019November 5, 2019

Celebrities Share Their EDS Battles and Help to Spread Awareness

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

Recently, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) made news headlines. That doesn’t happen often. Actress Lena Dunham announced that she has EDS in response to questions about a photo of her using ... Read more

October 31, 2019October 29, 2019

I’ve Found Some Success with a New Side Road

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

I’ve previously discussed how having Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) means that I often have to take side roads to reach my goals or engage in activities I enjoy. While I ... Read more

October 24, 2019October 21, 2019

I’m Determined Not to Let EDS Keep Me Down

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

Generally speaking, showing my horse is great. The shows are exhausting, but they are so much fun that I do them anyway. A recent show was no different. Even ... Read more

October 17, 2019October 15, 2019

New Partners Celebrate October Success

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

It turns out the crazy busy week paid off. I spent last weekend at a horse show in North Carolina, and Cherry and I had an amazing time! It was ... Read more

October 10, 2019October 8, 2019

Surviving the Chaos of October

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

Fall in the college counseling profession is like running the proverbial rat race. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day for the amount of work that needs to ... Read more

October 3, 2019October 8, 2019

I Manage Pain Flares with Physical Activity

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

I’ve made a lot of progress in learning how to manage Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), but I still experience pain flares. My most recent flare improved dramatically after a massage. ... Read more

September 26, 2019September 24, 2019

How I Managed My Latest Pain Flare

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

The past few weeks have been a total whirlwind. I’m a college counselor at a local high school, so September and October are the busiest months for me. They ... Read more

September 19, 2019September 17, 2019

Learning to Manage What I Can’t Understand

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

Life never seems to slow down. Every time I think I have time to take a breath and catch up around the house (you know, cleaning, laundry, dishes …), ... Read more