It has been just over a year since I began writing this column, “Stretcher-Bearers.” What a blessing it has been to become a part of this community and to be able to share information and words of encouragement. Since I write mostly about my daughter’s experience…
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.
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There were a lot of things I thought my daughter would never do again after her Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) diagnosis. Grace was 15 when she was diagnosed, and her symptoms progressed rapidly. She lost the ability to play the sports she loved — basketball, volleyball, and…
As we enter what I consider to be the most wonderful time of the year, I reflect on why this season of giving is so magical. Does it really have anything to do with the gifts under the tree, the parties, or the Christmas lights? Many of us fill…
I have come to appreciate the act of learning late in life. Until recently, I had taken for granted the ability to go to school, learn, and be educated in the field of my choosing. It was something I was expected to do, so I did it, mostly with little…
It’s often true that we never really know how much we treasure something until we no longer have it. We can also tend to take things for granted in life by never truly appreciating what we have until it’s taken from us. I found this to be true of sleep…
“I don’t want my pain and struggle to make me a victim. I want my battle to make me someone else’s hero.” — Unknown I never gave much thought to those living with chronic illness until our family experienced it firsthand. Now that our daughter Grace lives with Lambert-Eaton…
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” — J.R.R. Tolkien The most wonderful time of the year is almost upon us. In my eyes, the Christmas season begins Nov. 1 and gloriously continues through the end of…
We live only two hours from “The Happiest Place on Earth,” so it’s no surprise that we used to frequent Disney World. Each year, my children would push me to ride bigger and scarier rides. I’m more of a Tilt-A-Whirl kind of girl, but my kids love rides like…
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — L. M. Montgomery, “Anne of Green Gables” October has always been one of my favorite months. I grew up in the beautiful Northeast of the U.S., where autumn meant driving down back roads lined with towering…
My daughter, Grace, is an animal lover, always wanting to rescue the homeless or sheltered dog, the stray cat, or the random gerbil that needs a new home. So it was no surprise to me when she asked about getting a service animal after she was diagnosed with…
It’s funny to think how life’s little moments can suddenly become momentous. Rarely do I start a day thinking it will be spectacular. However, when we intentionally look for the good flowing through our days, we can’t help but see the beauty all around us. Several months into my daughter…
Most of us in the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) community have been following a court case involving Ruzurgi (amifampridine), the only LEMS treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for children under 17. In 2019, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals sued the FDA and other parties over the agency’s…
“There are far, far better things ahead than anything we leave behind.” – C. S. Lewis As the wife of an active-duty military member for 23 years, I have known my share of change. Usually, our family embraced a new duty station with gusto. We often planted quickly and firmly…