An avid equestrian and educator, Karen has been a columnist at BioNews — the publisher of this site — since 2019. She was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in 2009 after years of searching 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 writing.
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 Ehlers-Danlos syndrome diagnosis at age 22, I finally had some tools…
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, so we work Monday through Thursday. It’s quieter, so it’s a…
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 to injury, the heat has been intense, and I’ve been…
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 gather from all over the world to spend time together.
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 climbing over 100 degrees at times. Thanks to living on…
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, this column, and my full-time teaching job allow me to have…
Last fall, I repeatedly woke up quite sore, and it finally dawned on me that I needed a new mattress. Great! Easy fix, right? Well, it should have been — if I hadn’t forgotten to do it. You might be wondering, “How in the world do you forget to…
Every summer, I face the same conundrum: Do I wear shorts and skirts, or not? My answer tends to vary, but this year, I bought myself a few new pairs of shorts that I’ve already worn several times. I’m not sure I had any shorts I actually liked last…
Now that this crazy school year is out and I have a few weeks off, I’ve tried to come up with a plan for the summer to help me reset and recharge so that I can be ready for whatever the upcoming school year throws at me. With COVID-19…
Hello, readers! I’m so glad to be back with you all. I realize that I suddenly vanished from my column last fall, but now that the school year is finished, I’ve returned. This past year of teaching was the hardest one I’ve experienced, and I had to make some tough…
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