Can you tell us about your journey and how it all began? Most people think a diagnosis is just a word on a medical file. For me, it was a moment that completely changed how I saw my body, my childhood, and my future. At ten years old, I went from standing in line at the movies with my family to navigating hospitals, MRIs, and questions no child should have to answer. Suddenly, my life had rules and regulations — limits on movement, sport, and things I once took for granted. I

For the past 10 years, I have been living with Trigeminal Neuralgia, a rare and often misunderstood neurological disease . It is a condition that has changed my life in ways words sometimes struggle to explain. The pain is sudden, intense, and unpredictable — like electric shocks to my face. Simple everyday activities such as talking, eating, brushing my teeth, smiling, or even feeling a light breeze can trigger unbearable pain. What others do without thinking can feel like a

My name is Ilze, and I was born with a rare heart condition . My parents lost my older sister at just 3 days old to the same disease. Two years later, I arrived with the same condition—but thanks to improved medical technology, I am here today at 51. Ilze In the early 2010s, I started struggling to lift my arms and even swallow. I saw so many doctors and went through countless tests that I eventually gave up on finding a diagnosis. One day I visited my GP for what I thought