real stories.  

Hi, my name is Bryanna Ramsey, and this is my story. At the age of 5, I started having horrible headaches, body pain, balance issues, and many other symptoms. My mom started taking me to doctors constantly, and we were always told, “She’s just trying to skip school. She’s fine.” At 11, I started 6th grade and began playing the clarinet. Every time I would play my instrument, I would end up throwing up. I went to the doctor for it and was told I had asthma and to just use an

Hi! My name is Sierra Erdman-Luntz. I am now 24 years old, working my dream job, and live independently all while coping with hEDS and co. Specifically, I’m diagnosed with hEDS, POTS, MALS, occipital neuralgia, thoracic outlet syndrome, migraines, anemia and have suspected MCAS and endometriosis. I’ve been central line dependent for the last almost 3 years for my hydration due to a combination of my gi issues, inability to tolerate water, and severe POTS. I now have a wonderf

Hi, my name is Addie Carroll and this is my story. At the young age of 10, I was living a normal life as any 4th grader would. I was always out going, not shy and was always able to be myself. I enjoyed making new friends at my new elementary school I had recently transferred to. Around the first quarter of my 4th grade year, I had a normal strep infection. Everyone gets them so I started to carry on with my life until I woke up a completely different person one morning. A f

Students with chronic illness often move through school in ways that aren’t immediately visible. Managing health often happens alongside assignments and expectations that rarely adjust to those realities. Many students learn to balance doctor appointments with homework and navigate environments that don’t always understand what they’re experiencing. The voices below share pieces of that reality. These reflections come directly from students living with chronic illness, offeri

Some mornings, I wake up and stare at the ceiling for what feels like hours. My body feels heavy, like I’m made of wet sand. Even breathing feels like a task. I lie there, caught in the same war that’s been waging inside of me for years. I can’t let this illness ruin my life. But I have to listen to my body and rest. It’s a cruel world of tug-of-war. On one side, there’s this version of me that still dreams. The one who wants to work, see friends, laugh, and have a normal lif