Leah is a Southern California-based patient writer. She's been an active member of the muscular dystrophy community since her regional ambassadorship with the MDA beginning at the age of 10 after her diagnosis of a rare neuromuscular disease, mitochondrial myopathy (Mito). Leah advocates for those with disabilities and promotes an understanding of her condition by evoking a positive outlook upon the obstacles she faces. Leah’s work doesn’t just stop at her column: she also doubles as a co-moderator on the MD News Forums. Away from her jobs, Leah is known among family and friends for her artistic creativity and outgoing personality.When you have a friend or family member who’s experiencing health problems, your first thought might be to pray for physical healing. At times, it feels as if that’s the only way to help. But, as someone living with a chronic illness/disability, physical healing may not be…
Everyone’s idea of what makes for a happy life is different. For example, some people like traveling all over the world or have a bucket list of places to go and things to do. On the other hand, some people simply want to have a good career and…
It’s not always easy to be positive with a disability, especially in the beginning. It’s hard to see your friends do things that you can’t. The stares are hard to ignore, and there are people who simply don’t want to understand your situation. It doesn’t make life any easier, but…
With technology at our fingertips, being unplugged and off grid can seem like something that exists only in a fiction novel. New smartphones come out each year, cars have built-in wifi, and music and television can be accessed from our almost anywhere. Just like everything in life, technology has its pros…
In 1965, a coach for the University of Florida football team — the Gators — noticed that his players were being affected by heat-related illnesses. The coach then asked a team of physicians to determine the exact cause for his players falling ill. The physicians discovered that the team was…
People are always surprised at how faithful my family is. They think that because of my illness we would automatically throw our faith out the window, or that we would blame God for our circumstances. It’s quite the opposite actually. Growing up, I wouldn’t exactly say we were a family of…
When I was little, I wore a medical ID bracelet because I had asthma. Twelve years later, I recently bought a new one to replace the old one, which I lost. These days, with the progression of my disease and new symptoms popping up every few years, I have many…
Leah Leilani Hello! My name is Leah, and 12 years ago, I was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy called mitochondrial myopathy. If you don’t know, mitochondria are the energy machines of the cell. They transform your food into energy so you can live. When…
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