Story by Aviva Loeb, illustrations by Katie Wheeler.
I’ve spent the past year battling a slew of weird symptoms and health problems. Finally, in March, I received a diagnosis. It’s been a terrifying experience that has tested me physically and mentally — a constant, nagging reminder that life can turn on a dime.
Sometimes I’ll feel normal for weeks in a row. Those days, when I feel okay, I wonder whether any of this is even real. But other days are spent frantically emailing my doctor to make sure my latest flare-up isn’t a sign of something more serious. I’m still figuring out how to approach my diagnosis. Should I talk about it on a first date? Tell my friends if I’m feeling particularly awful? How bad does my health have to get to justify taking a sick day?
When my plants wither, it feels like a reflection of my own setbacks
Taking care of myself and my plants can be an uphill battle
Kate not Katie: Why I dropped the ‘i’ in my name
As I got older, my name started to feel like a too-small sweater
