Support the Ehlers Danlos Society and help them provide resources and help to people with EDS and HSD

1. I have joined the May Awareness Month Challenge to spread awareness and raise funds to support The Ehlers-Danlos Society by participating in challenges on social media all month long. Please support me by donating to my fundraising page. Together, even a small amount can make a huge difference!

As this condition is genetic, I've had it my whole life, I just didn't know it. There were problems that didn't have answers and no one could connect the dots. Shortly after I turned 14, I tore my labrum cartilage in my left hip, something only seen in elderly people or marathon runners (which I surely am not). We knew something was wrong. As I am an avid researcher, I wanted answers. I read extensively and found that so many people had similar experiences that I did. People who's joints hurt and bent in weird ways, people with spent days in bed with migraines, people with stomach problems, people with tons of other supposedly unrelated issues that all contributed to a bigger picture. These people had Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. After 2 years, 2 hip surgeries, MRI's, doctors, lots of physical therapy, and too many ER visits, we went to Rush Hospital to see a geneticist and they confirmed I had Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Many would see this diagnosis as a bad thing, but to me, it was the answer to the problems that had been plaguing me my whole life.

The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of heritable connective tissue disorders that produce a spectrum of complex problems across multiple systems of the body. Symptoms that are often seen across all types are hypermobile joints, (that can move farther than normal), stretchy skin, & fragile tissues. Each case is unique and severity may range dramatically, even within families. There is no cure, but treatment focuses on symptom management and preventing further damage.

The Ehlers-Danlos Society is a global community dedicated to saving & improving the lives of those affected by the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, hypermobility spectrum disorders, & related conditions. Our goal is world-wide awareness and better quality of life for all who suffer from these conditions, regardless of geography.

Please support me as I overcome my challenges with EDS to participate in May Awareness Challenge by donating. Thank you!