A Night of Art Celebrating the Body’s Resilience in the Face of Autoimmune Disease

I was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular autoimmune disease called Myasthenia Gravis (MG) in September of 2023.

After a misdiagnosis of an eating disorder in the ER of NYP Weill Cornell, Internal Medicine called urging me to check into the ER. They admitted me to the hospital because at this point, I was down to a mere 95 pounds, with a BMI of less than 15. I had lost all control of my facial and swallowing muscles. There were many screenings and tests, pricks and pokes, a feeding tube and a cancer scare, but eventually, I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis (MG) and MuSK antibodies specifically.

I may not look like I’m sick or as if I have a disease, but I am and I do. Most importantly, I am proud to be on this journey. I have also grown to learn that the term “disabled” takes many shapes and forms.

My mission is to educate my friends, family, and network, at minimum, about my journey and why stress management is crucial to living a healthy life and how common autoimmune diseases are. With a natural curiosity of the brain as a Neuroscience major at Baylor University at the beginning of my collegiate career, and a father who is a retired Neurosurgeon and Neurologist, I have always been passionate about serving my community and advocating for those who need amplified voices.

I am so honored to be spearheading events and partnerships for the Autoimmune Alliance. We first connected in June 2024, via Instagram after I posted in collaboration with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA). Fast forward to half a year later and we’re in the depths of planning our very first event in New York City!

I hope with the Autoimmune Alliance’s educational endeavors paired with our lobbying and legislative efforts, we educate people and make a scalable impact for the millions of people worldwide living with chronic illnesses. People shouldn’t have to sacrifice finishing their degrees or fear losing their jobs, just because their body has varying abilities. Autoimmune warriors are not their illnesses, but their illnesses are a part of who they are.