I was diagnosed with relapsing MS in 2008, aged 28. I also live with polycystic ovarian syndrome and chronic urticaria/angiodema. I have experience in a broad caregiver’s capacity for my younger sister who has ulcerative colitis and who has also experienced mental health issues including PTSD, anxiety and depression. I work full time as a Spanish-English translator/analyst for a business intelligence company. In my spare time I work with multiple stakeholders (including pharma, patient associations/charities, clinicians, patients and the healthcare industry) to bring the patient voice into the healthcare journey, addressing issues that affect specific patient communities and cross-patient communities, as well as the healthcare industry.
Rania was diagnosed with MS at 19 while in her first year of University. In the first years of being diagnosed and navigating her new way of life she did not speak much about her struggles. 2 years ago she decided to blog about her experience and since hasn’t been able to stop spreading awareness for this invisible disease. She started her blog as miss anonyMS, became and MS Ambassador for MS Limited in Australia and runs her own charity events with all proceeds going to finding a cure for MS as well as support services to help people living with MS.
It’s been 5 years since Dara heard those terrifying words, “You have breast cancer.” At the time, she was 42, and her kids were 11 and 14. After going through the long treatment plan, she found herself not sure what to do with the fear that followed her around like her shadow. Dara did a lot of work on herself, figured out “how to thrive after you survive,” and now helps people all over the world. Dara is the creator of Crazy Perfect Life, an inspiring website with over 175,000 followers. She’s the author of Crush Cancer, the book she needed when she was diagnosed, and speaks regularly around the country leading Crush Cancer, Thrive and Self Care Workshops.
She also has a Podcast: The THRIVE Podcast with Garth and Dara. Audiences connect with Dara’s down to earth personality and love the energy and inspiration she brings. Dara lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughters and loves walking in the woods, practicing yoga and spending time with family and friends.
When Elizabeth was diagnosed with Relapsing MS in 2002, her work was on the inside-front pages of top fashion magazines. Elizabeth was Estée Lauderʼs global advertising, Art Director. In 2006, she was recruited by Starwood Hotels & Resorts where as Creative Director, she traveled the world, directing lifestyle- photo shoots. Falling in love with the hospitality industry, Elizabeth advanced to Morgans Hotel Group, ultimately in 2015, landed her swan song, position, directing the advertising, that re-launched New York Cityʼs legendary, Knickerbocker Hotel.
Today, MS symptoms have changed Elizabethʼs abilities to do some of the things she loves but her artistic vision and creative curiosity have only transitioned in new directions – two decades after Elizabethʼs first MS symptom she is learning to horse back ride through equine therapy, swimming laps at the YMCA, writing and illustrating a childrenʼs book, tracing her Swedish/French ancestry, blogging about cooking recipes, collected abroad and developing marketing for non-profits.
Sara Mobäck is a Diabetic Advocate and runs one of Sweden’s largest blogs about T1D as well as an Instagram @saramoback. Sara was diagnosed in 2003 and today she works with diabetics around the world. She motivates and inspires other people to never stop dreaming and realize their dreams, whether big or small, despite having a chronic illness. Sara also talks about the importance of eating versus insulin because of her own experiences with Diabetes and an eating disorder. She is from Norrköping, Sweden and now lives in Stockholm where she enjoys going to concerts, spending time with friends and family, baking gluten-free bread, and trying new restaurants. Sara lives by the mantra, “Nothing is impossible and there is so much more to life than just numbers!”
I’m 16 years old and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes two years ago. Born in London and the eldest of three brothers, I lived in London for many years and later moved to Stockholm. The diagnosis was a severe shock at first and it took a long time to fully accept it. I was very frightened to go to school a week later, being fully responsible for managing the diabetes on my own.
I am a very detailed-oriented person and have managed to keep my long term BG at a very good level. I really want to help other young people to live with Type 1 diabetes. We all want to fit in and be like everyone else, but sometimes it might be better to just be you. The need to raise awareness about T1D is close to my heart as well as the obstacles and hard work this means for us and our families everyday. In addition, I want to raise awareness in the schooling system because a lot more needs to be done so that students with Type 1 diabetes are able to reach their full academic potential. I am a straight-A student, but I have clearly noticed that Type 1 diabetes requires a lot more focus to maintain a high academic performance. My biggest hobby is coding and my dream is to go to MIT, work in the technology sector and develop the next generation of diabetes technology.
On my Instagram account (t1d_on_the_prowl) you will find my advice for daily situations, but I also want to make my followers smile and feel that they’re not alone.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, Diana spent the first seven years running. Where to? She had no idea as long as MS wasn’t around. But as we all know, you can run but you can’t hide. No matter what Diana tried to do, MS would rear its ugly head to remind her who was boss. You would think she would get the hint and make room for MS, but NO! Diana would do things her way. Until one day, seven tedious years later, she finally woke up and realized she could never outrun MS.
And that has made all the difference. For one, her cat Nosey stopped biting her. For two, she was no longer ashamed of her story. Empowered, Diana started blogging about her experience with MS and depression on Instagram. Her passion is helping others have a more peaceful journey with MS.
Diana lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, 14-month-old daughter, and two fur babies Ninja and Nosey. In her former life, she worked as a writer and digital media-marketing specialist.
At the age of 32, Jen Campisano was diagnosed with stage four, metastatic breast cancer when her son was just five months old. Nearly five years after her initial diagnosis, a skin biopsy indicated an autoimmune disease called sarcoidosis and a PET/CT scan revealed multiple spots of concern. As a follow-up, Jen had a lung biopsy. The results came back showing not cancer, but rather: more sarcoidosis. Further testing also showed no cancer.
After almost five years of treatment, Jen was officially restaged to Stage II breast cancer plus an autoimmune disease that can mimic metastases on scans and is treated with steroids. Today, she shows no signs of either disease, but will always carry the experience of living with “mets” for the first 5 years of her son’s life.
A lawyer and former lobbyist, Jen writes about navigating the intersection of motherhood and cancer (and now life after cancer) at www.boobyandthebeast.com. She has written for Women’s Health, The Huffington Post, ScaryMommy.com, STAT News, and a number of health- and parenting-related blogs.
Jen was featured on The Today Show in October 2014 in a segment kicking off Breast Cancer Awareness Month hosted by Joan Lunden. Jen was also honored to be included in Pfizer Inc.’s “Breast Cancer: A Story Half Told” project, which aims to change the conversation around metastatic breast cancer. She is a member of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship’s Cancer Policy & Advocacy Team, volunteers as a RISE advocate and legislative advisor to the Young Survival Coalition, and is a board member for the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine.
Jen resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband, their eight-year-old son, Quinn, and their spirited toddler, Noelle.
Chantal McCulligh was diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder at the mere age of 7 but that didn’t stop her from turning into the renowned anxiety warrior that she is today. Writer and content marketer by day, self-proclaimed anxiety master at night, Chantal began to share her journey online in hopes of ending the stigma attached to mental illness and to show others that their diagnosis does not control their destiny. Today, Chantal is the proud owner of Anxiety-Gone and the first ever subscription box service for anxiety warriors. She also enjoys yoga, meditation, the great outdoors and anything that raises her vibrations.
Alison Seponara, MS, LPC is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice located in Pennsylvania. Alison specializes in anxiety disorders with woman and special needs children while utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based techniques to provide the best quality of care. Along with her private practice, you can find Alison on Instagram @theanxietyhealer and where she posts daily anxiety healing tips and tricks while sharing her vulnerabilities related to her own anxiety, mental health struggles, & love life. Alison’s mission is to help those from around the world feel less alone in their anxiety and offer awareness and education in mental health. Alison also offers coaching services to other mental health & wellness entrepreneurs. Alison provides her expertise to help build and monetize their social media presence by helping to create an effective and compelling brand.