Stretcher-Bearers – a Column by Lori Dunham

Lori Dunham and her family have lived all over the world, thanks to the U.S. Navy. She and her husband have three children and currently live in North Florida. At age 14, their daughter was diagnosed with the rare disease Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Lori’s mission in writing is to inspire and encourage those who find themselves in the role of caregiver to a loved one with a rare disease. When she is not writing or homeschooling her two youngest, Lori enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with family.

Steps I Took to Dig Out From the Depths of Depression

Watching a loved one suffer is unbelievably hard. Watching your child suffer and lose function is practically impossible. In my view, suffering and heartache were never meant to be part of our story. Yet here we are. Each of us has extremely hard parts in our stories. In my life,…

How We Managed a Vacation, LEMS, and Summer Heat

These last days of summer blanket us with a thick layer of humidity and unrelenting sun. For us in the South, the end of summer is not marked by the turning of the seasons toward cooler weather, but instead the return of the new school year. The heat and humidity…

Thoughts on How to Build Our Communities With Intention

I’m a student of living life with intention. That means living with the end goals in mind. Whether they’re career goals, financial goals, or relationship and parenting goals, knowing the desired outcome helps walk you toward that goal. Some of the best parenting advice I received as a young mom…

Steps I Took to Bring Joys Back Into Our Home

Living with a chronic illness, or caring for a loved one with a chronic illness, can often be overwhelming. When our 17-year-old daughter, Grace, was diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) at age 14, everything else in life was seemingly pushed aside. Instead of having a multidimensional life, we…

We’re Taking Back All That We Lost to LEMS

When our daughter Grace was diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), she was just 14 years old. At that age, kids are just beginning to flesh out their interests and desires for the future. Grace was no different. She was beginning to learn not only what she was good…