A brief recap of the latest CLOVES Family Conference
Call to action
Lately, I’ve been experiencing a bit of a writing block. With starting my first full-time job and studying for my license exam, I haven’t had a lot of free time to just sit down and write. It can become hard to pursue your hobbies throughout a busy life. The reason this blog is so important … Continue reading Call to action
Most ridiculous comments I’ve gotten about my syndrome
Throughout the years, there have been some really outrageous, ignorant comments I’ve gotten regarding my foot from complete strangers. It’s a wonder how some people actually function socially when they can be so insensitive. I used to get embarrassed and let it get to me, but now I realize how hilarious some of these responses … Continue reading Most ridiculous comments I’ve gotten about my syndrome
Research is key
Advocating for CLOVES Syndrome doesn’t just mean advocating for the individuals and families affected. It also means advocating for stronger efforts to further research on the syndrome and the advancement of medical treatments in order to address the needs of those affected. With more of this, those with CLOVES have more of a chance to … Continue reading Research is key
Top 5 lessons I’ve learned living with my natural imperfections
We all know living with an anomaly can suck, no matter what it is. Throughout my life experiences so far, I’ve learned several lessons that over time have helped me rebuild the parts of my character that so often got torn down from the tough times. Though this may not apply to all since everyone … Continue reading Top 5 lessons I’ve learned living with my natural imperfections
Parenting a child with CLOVES • by Julie, a CLOVES mother
My daughter asked me to write about what it’s like to parent a child with CLOVES Syndrome. When I started to think about what to write, I realized how hard it is to put into words as it is such a unique experience given the rarity of CLOVES Syndrome. Our journey began when Lindsay was … Continue reading Parenting a child with CLOVES • by Julie, a CLOVES mother
Rare isn’t so rare
30 million people are living with rare diseases in the United States today. That’s 1 in 10 Americans. Worldwide, about 350 million people suffer from rare diseases. If all of the people diagnosed with rare diseases lived in one country, it would be the world’s 3rd most populated country. How wild is that? For how … Continue reading Rare isn’t so rare
New find!
For anyone with CLOVES (or any other disease) who has uneven sized feet or an overgrown foot, buying shoes can be a really difficult task. It's been hard for me all my life, and I've always had very limited options. Only New Balance has had a pair of shoes that work for me, and they … Continue reading New find!
Making the decision to start Sirolimus
If you or a family member has CLOVES, then you know that there aren’t many options available to help treat it. Invasive methods are out there, like de-bulking surgery or sclerotherapy, but many people may not want to jump right into difficult medical procedures like those. Instead, there is another relatively new alternative available. A … Continue reading Making the decision to start Sirolimus
5 things to remember when they stare
If you have a rare disease with any kind of physical abnormality, then you most likely get a few stares when you’re out in public, maybe even on a daily basis (I sure do). And I’m going to be honest—it hurts. No matter how old you get or how confident you get, staring is one … Continue reading 5 things to remember when they stare
