Each patient has a story with their condition.

Diagnosed with epilepsy as a teenager, Josie Martinez has dedicated the last twelve years of her life to destigmatizing the condition.

Heather Foisy shares her long diagnosis experience, and how her own autoimmune struggles led her to create educational resources for others.

Jazmin Gibbons is a mother of three, a wife, a lover of salsa dancing, and a passionately vocal Sjögren's patient.

Phil Haydon’s post-traumatic epilepsy led him to start a nonprofit, Sail for Epilepsy, in order to educate and inspire.

Nika C. Beamon shares her experiences as a writer and IgG4-RD patient who was misdiagnosed for seventeen years.

Kevin Moffat speaks candidly about the personal and professional impacts of living with PSC and Crohn’s disease.

Austin Muranaka uses his own medical training to support other patients, endorse clinical research, and advocate for his own health.

Ashley Henderson is a former competitive dancer turned health and fitness professional – and she also has Crohn’s disease as well as primary sclerosing cholangitis. Learn how her faith, mindfulness, and community have helped her become the incredible person she is today.

When Nicole Evans developed epilepsy after battling blood cancer as a child, she couldn’t have imagined the joyous life she’d eventually build for herself.

Ashley Calvento had just started her dream job when she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Although this diagnosis has caused her to experience some mental health struggles, she’s now a proud advocate and is living a life she’d previously dreamed of.

Becky Post never thought she’d end up working as a registered autoimmune holistic nutritional specialist. But when a significant dietary change transformed her MS and MTC symptoms, empowering her to be the parent she dreamed of, she knew she wanted to share her wins with others.

When Chris Laskey woke up from what he thought was a routine procedure in 2020, he learned he had esophageal cancer. Multiple health chapters have passed since then, but his tight-knit family and competitive spirit remain the same.

After more than twenty years of symptoms, Rosa Yanez's MS diagnosis came as a relief. In the years since, she's worked hard to change the face of what a "patient" looks like, leveraging her online platform to help give others the visibility that she wishes she had access to in the past.

Nothing can keep Shawna Barnes from leveraging her skills to help others. In her previous role as an Army medic – and in her current roles as a parent, partner, and web designer – Shawna refuses self-pity and replaces it with self-confidence.

Cameron Bendgen’s MDS diagnosis interrupted his professional and personal endeavors, all while bolstering his family’s emphasis on transparency and communication. Today, he continues to openly discuss topics that often get left unsaid, like how to support grieving families and why he wishes he’d started therapy earlier.

It took over a decade of living with symptoms before Tobias (36), who lives near Stuttgart, Germany, finally had a definitive diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). A diagnosis which paved the way to treatment, brought him physical and emotional relief. Now Tobias is a valuable resource for others coming to terms with a diagnosis of EoE.

Fiona, who lives in Adelaide, Australia with her husband and two children, has worked in education and health for most of her career, a career which has undoubtedly equipped her with the skills she needed when the answers to her own health questions could not be easily fou

An urgent admission to the emergency room for 17-year-old Justin Steinberg (now 22 years old) led to an unexpected diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Adjusting to life with EoE has brought challenges but Justin, who now lives “symptom-free”, is proof that EoE need not be a life-defining, devastating diagnosis. Good quality coordinated care can bring EoE under control and help manage it successfully.

Patti Johnson grew up with environmental allergies and was diagnosed with EoE in 2013. However, with a love for cooking and creating in the kitchen, Patti was determined not to fall out of love with it and wrote her very own EoE cookbook which she hopes will support and inspire others in the EoE community in their journey with food.

Hannah Petosa is a 22-year-old Boston University graduate who recently received her EoE diagnosis in June of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a busy aspiring TV writer, producer and performer, Hannah had never given herself the time to slow down and really research her own symptoms before lockdown. However, Hannah is no stranger to gastrointestinal issues, and has been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) when she was just 10 years old.

Alex Peebles is making it her mission to bring representation to the chronic illness community through her non-profit and advocacy work. Her work stems from her own diagnosis which ignited her to help others.

Natalie Kelley is a natural relationship-builder. As a Chronic Illness Mindset Coach, she helps others to connect and grow in light of their diagnosis.

Ally Gordon lives with not one, but five chronic illnesses. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, she treats each day like a new opportunity to help others and spread positivity into the world.

When diagnosed with MDS, Michelle Wilson created a blog, "Whirlwind and Wonder", to connect with other MDS patients. She strives to offer hope and validation to others through her words and connection online.

Russell Creed didn't let his PSC diagnosis derail his life. After a liver transplant, Russell shifted his mindset and lifestyle to fully embrace all life has to offer and enjoys spending time helping others do the same.

Jenny Jones found her voice as a patient advocate after years of championing for herself with medical professionals. Now, she uses her platform to help others learn the best ways to speak with their doctors and find answers.

Garrett Taira has a flair for the arts; from dancing in the studio to acting in front of a camera, he excels creatively. He channels his talents into comedy and film with the goal of offering support and hope for those in similar health situations.

Kaitlyn Johnson is always on the move, both personally and professionally. While UC is part of her life, it doesn't actively rule it and she encourages other UC patients to take life by the reigns.

C.J. Papuro Cabrera experienced dark days after his UC diagnosis, but through his advocacy work and time spent working on himself, he's a beacon of hope for those in a similar situation.