My name is Reshmie , and I live with multiple rare diseases. Over the years, I have faced thyroid cancer , undergone a splenectomy , and had a portion of my pancreas removed in a pancreatectomy . My medical challenges have been heavy, unpredictable, and often overwhelming—yet I am not alone as I continue fighting. Every day I remind myself: I am still here, and I am still going. What Does “Equity” Mean in My Story? For me, equity begins with simply being heard . The hardest p

When Victoria (Vixi)  was diagnosed at just 15 years old  with Behçet’s Disease , everything we thought we knew about her health changed. Behçet’s is a rare, complex inflammatory disorder that most doctors have never seen in their careers. But long before her diagnosis, her symptoms were already shaping her life. Early Signs No One Could Explain Since she was little, Vixi struggled with painful mouth ulcers. We were given many explanations such as stress, vitamin deficiencies

As the last‑born daughter of Thomas and Nombulelo Sidzamba, I, Zintle , never imagined how dramatically my life would change after being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 4)  in 2015. SMA Type 4 is a rare genetic disorder that affects the nerve cells responsible for voluntary muscle movement, causing progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Before the Diagnosis Before SMA entered my life, I was active, energetic, and constantly on the move — playing tennis, da