For Nicol Jackson, one particular incident stands out as a stark reminder of how rarely some doctors ever see a patient with vasculitis. Her 5-year-old son, Josh, who was being treated for Kawasaki disease, experienced severe chest pains. Nicol and her husband, Rob, rushed him to the emergency room at…...
Balancing School and Vasculitis: Perspectives from Students and Parents
Lori Larson and son, Matt Being a young adult with vasculitis is challenging enough, but trying to navigate through school while managing the illness demands extraordinary skills. We asked a cross-section of young adult patients (and some parents) how they found the balance between health and academics. “One of the…...
Support Groups, Family Help Ease Long Journey with Rare Urticarial Vasculitis
For Richard Kujawa, attending the 2019 International Vasculitis Symposium in Bloomington, Minnesota, during July was a chance to learn more about urticarial vasculitis, the rare disease he was diagnosed with in recent years. But he got something else he wasn’t expecting: a connection with someone who has the same disease.…...
Creating Vasculitis Awareness in a Remote Corner of Ontario
A personal and professional mission for Dr. Michael Fernando and his wife, Patti Kemp. Michael Fernando, MD, is a family practice and emergency physician who lives and practices medicine in rural southwestern Ontario, Canada. Following medical school in the UK (Bart’s and the London School of Medicine), Dr. Fernando trained…...
Positivity, Perseverance Inspires Other Young Adults in Vasculitis Community
This summer’s International Vasculitis Symposium in Bloomington, Minnesota, marked another successful gathering of young adults and continued the growth of our community. While it was great to see old friends again, I was reminded of how this disease continues to impact new people every year, and how scary and daunting…...
