The Heroes Living Among Us
I have been surrounded by heroes much of my life. For the past 23 years, I traveled the world alongside my husband as he served in the U.S. Navy. I have been on flag-draped…
Stretcher-Bearers — Lori Dunham
Lori Dunham and her family have lived all over the world thanks to the U.S. Navy. She has a degree in human resources but enjoys writing to encourage and inspire others. When her daughter Grace was diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome at age 15, Lori sought community and encouragement from those walking a similar path. Lori’s mission in writing is to inspire and encourage those who find themselves in the role of caregiver. When she is not writing or homeschooling her two youngest, Lori enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with family. Currently they live in Jacksonville, Florida.
Featured Post
How a simple tendon reflex test indicated a major problem
No two stories are quite the same — particularly among those living with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). When our daughter Grace was diagnosed with the condition at age 15, I was desperate to…
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With LEMS, Activities Require a Cost-benefit Analysis
Like many others, our family is returning to a normal routine after enjoying an increase in activities, family events, and time with friends for the Easter holiday. I love the extra family time and…
Cheering On Those Running the Same Race as Us
Living with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) or another rare disease, or caring for someone with one, comes with many challenges. We often find ourselves within a vacuum because that very rareness makes information…
A Horse and a Donkey Remind Me of the Importance of Relationships
One of the most positive experiences that has come from our 17-year-old daughter Grace being diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome has been the opportunity to attend horse therapy with a nonprofit organization called…
Finding the Strength to Fight Another Day
I remember the exact moment I realized we were facing a giant in my daughter Grace’s life. Barely a teenager, she had symptoms that eventually resulted in a diagnosis of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS).
The Best Thing I Can Do as a Caregiver
I love taking care of people. I always wanted a family, and I’ve loved my role as a mother and wife first and foremost. However, our daughter’s diagnosis of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome at age…
The Fall That Brought Us Down to Earth
I have never been a fan of roller coasters. I learned early on that I like to keep my feet firmly planted on solid ground. Growing up in Pennsylvania, I recall many field trips…
We Appreciate the Unexpected Joys in Life With LEMS
There was a time when I thought I’d never smile again. For most of my life, my smile came easily. Through good times and bad, a smile never cost me much. I was…
Our Daughter Has Stopped IVIG Treatment
One of the first treatments offered to our daughter Grace, now 16, after she was diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) was intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Every three or four weeks we would head…
Our Daughter Is the Rarest of the Rare
From the start, our daughter’s life was harder than most. When we adopted Grace when she was just 13 months old, she was among the roughly 81,000 children adopted by American families from…
Our Experience Transitioning From Ruzurgi to Firdapse
In May 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ruzurgi (amifampridine) for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) in children ages 6-16. Our daughter Grace, then 14, was diagnosed with…
Finding the Right Treatment for My Daughter Made All the Difference
The calendar dictates my days. Most years, our family marks the passage of time with birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and a highly anticipated summer vacation. But since our daughter Grace, 16, was diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton…