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 →

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 →

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 →

Older and stronger

This world tends to throw us curveballs left and right, and you never know when they’re coming for you. When they reach you, often they’re difficult to work through. And sometimes, the outlook gets bleak. You can fight something and do everything you can to get through certain hardships in life, but sometimes it seems … Continue reading Older and stronger →

My story

I never really thought my syndrome had a significant impact on me as a person. I was alone for most of my life, thinking I was the only person in the world with this rare disease. Until I was correctly diagnosed and met others like me, I really struggled with my differences. I was born … Continue reading My story →