In Episode 42 of Our Invisible Life podcast, Laura and Kendra sit down with Molly Evans to discuss her daughters' battles with chronic illness and how that drove her to open her own business to better serve pediatric patients with chronic illness. Molly is a nurse, business owner and mom. Molly's oldest daughter was diagnosed in her teens with Ehler-Danlos syndrome along with POTS and gastroparesis; her youngest was born with a rare genetic disease and is physically and developmentally delayed as well as dependent on a feeding tube. The experiences Molly had dealing with her children's health inspired her to open Oakland Kids Rehabilitation, a pediatric clinic offering play-based physical, occupational and speech therapies.

Episode Resources:

Oakland Kids Rehabilitation - http://oaklandkidsrehab.com/

Rare Diseases - https://rarediseases.org/

If you'd like to share your story and discuss living with chronic illness, reach out to us on Instagram or through our email.

Find us on Instagram: our_invisible_life_podcast

Email: ourinvisiblelifepodcast@gmail.com

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In episode 41 of Our Invisible Life Podcast, Kendra and Laura meet with Dr. Max Shear to discuss the challenges he faces living with Dyslexia and how he worked to prove to himself and others that he could be successful despite this disability.

Max is a husband and father of two young boys ages 8 and 3. Max has a PhD from George Mason University in Applied Developmental Psychology, with a concentration in Research Methods and Statistics. Professionally, he is a Senior User Experience (UX) Researcher for Plante Moran. When Max isn’t wrangling research participants or his children, he is enjoying all things nerdy: from board games, video games to comic books and science. Max is an advocate for the users and their needs for products and services, DEI, and Accessibility. Max’s interest in the unique needs of users stems from his own personal experiences growing up with Dyslexia and learning how to adapt the world around him.

Episode Information:

Malcolm Gladwell

Cleveland Clinic on Dyslexia

Low Self-Esteem

If you'd like to share your story and discuss living with chronic illness, reach out to us on Instagram or through our email.

Find us on Instagram: our_invisible_life_podcast

Email: ourinvisiblelifepodcast@gmail.com

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Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/887cd445-8807-4944-82a3-4a1ab237ed74

In episode 40 of Our Invisible Life podcast, Kendra and Laura talk with Dr. Sarah Kirsch about her personal health journey and how it led her to the field of Functional Medicine. Dr. Sarah Kirsch is a chiropractor, nutritionist and a functional medicine provider. She opened Balanced Health and Wellness in Berkley, MI 14 years ago. She is excited to be expanding her team to include a multidisciplinary approach this coming fall. Her team's mission is to help patient's find and address the root cause of their symptoms, from chronic pain, inflammation, digestive dysfunction, hormone imbalance and cardiometabolic concerns. She is a working mom of 3 who has been on her own health journey so she personally understands implementing lifestyle changes into a busy schedule and is excited to help others on their journey to better health.

Episode Resources:

IFM.org

Balanced Health and Wellness

If you'd like to share your story and discuss living with chronic illness, reach out to us on Instagram or through our email.

Find us on Instagram: our_invisible_life_podcast

Email: ourinvisiblelifepodcast@gmail.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bJteZ9wgTNf6dyUCxkP2R

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/887cd445-8807-4944-82a3-4a1ab237ed74

In Episode 39 of Our Invisible Life, hosts Kendra and Laura share some updates about their chronic illness. Kendra shares her ups and downs with migraine over the last few months, which included dealing with migraine in new circumstances. Laura shares about a scare with an MS flare up and the resulting changes in medication, starting HRT, cold plunges, new tests and a new personal training program.

If you'd like to share your story and discuss living with chronic illness, reach out to us on Instagram or through our email. We want to help you share your story!

Find us on Instagram: our_invisible_life_podcast

Email: ourinvisiblelifepodcast@gmail.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bJteZ9wgTNf6dyUCxkP2R

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/887cd445-8807-4944-82a3-4a1ab237ed74

In Episode 38 of Our Invisible Life, Kendra and Laura sit down with Teri Falcon to discuss her struggle with back pain, nerve issues and migraines. Teri is a 41 year old marine vet. By trade she is a licensed clinical social worker with many side jobs when she's able. For years, Teri has struggled with back and nerve issues. She has been has been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, facet and sacroiliac joint syndromes, mild scoliosis and chronic migraines. She has a history of Cerebrospinal fluid leaks as well. Currently, Teri is in physical therapy three times a week for pain management in hopes to get back to some of her regular daily activities, including being a more active parent to her two daughters.

Episode Links:

Degenerative Disc Disease

Spinal Stenosis

If you'd like to share your story and discuss living with chronic illness, reach out to us on Instagram or through our email.

Find us on Instagram: our_invisible_life_podcast

Email: ourinvisiblelifepodcast@gmail.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bJteZ9wgTNf6dyUCxkP2R

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/887cd445-8807-4944-82a3-4a1ab237ed74

In Episode 37, of Our Invisible Life, Kendra and Laura catch up with Becky Caudill (episode 13) to discuss the changes to her health over the past year. Through new symptoms that led to a new diagnosis and finally finding a new treatment that alleviates some pain, Becky continues to advocate for herself and share her story of strength and perseverance while dealing with multiple chronic illnesses.

Becky is a 39 year old, from the Detroit area. She worked for 11 years in healthcare as a Registered Medical Assistant in pediatrics before becoming disabled in June of 2019. During her long journey with chronic illness she has been diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, hypermobility ehlers-danlos syndrome, Sjogrens, Graves Disease, and orthostatic intolerance. Most recently she has also been diagnosed with Tumid Lupus. She loves diamond art painting, spending time with her family, especially her 5 year old nephew and being a chronic illness advocate!

Episode Links:

Tumid Lupus Erythematosus

Mayo Clinic - Acupuncture

American Academy of Dermatology

If you'd like to share your story and discuss living with chronic illness, reach out to us on Instagram or through our email.

Find us on Instagram: our_invisible_life_podcast

Email: ourinvisiblelifepodcast@gmail.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bJteZ9wgTNf6dyUCxkP2R

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/887cd445-8807-4944-82a3-4a1ab237ed74

In Episode 36 of Our Invisible Life Podcast, Laura and Kendra talk with Michelle Bortnick about her personal experience with a chromosomal abnormality and the mystery of her daughters chronic illness. Michelle is a wife and mother of three young children: Ellie, Abby, and Max. Professionally, she enjoys teaching math to middle schoolers and in her spare time, she loves to be with her family, especially in Disney World! Michelle is also an advocate for women’s health, especially reproductive freedom. This is partially driven by her personal journey with a chromosomal abnormality, which has affected her ability to have children. She’s also happy to offer support to other families with children with complex medical needs after all she has experienced with her middle child.

Episode Resources:

Eosinophilic esophagitis

United Healthcare Children's Foundation

Campaign Urging Research for Eosinophilic Disease

Michigan Children's Special Health Care Services

⁠Michigan Children's Waiver Program⁠

If you'd like to share your story and discuss living with chronic illness, reach out to us on Instagram or through our email.

Find us on Instagram: our_invisible_life_podcast

Email: ourinvisiblelifepodcast@gmail.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bJteZ9wgTNf6dyUCxkP2R

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/887cd445-8807-4944-82a3-4a1ab237ed74

In Episode 35 of Our Invisible Life, Laura and Kendra talk about perimenopause, menopause, and the symptoms and effects on chronic illness. After discovering that many of her own MS symptoms mimic that of peri-menopause, Laura got very interested in learning more about this stage of life that all women go through. Over the past few months she's been studying and today she shares her discoveries with us.

Episode Resources:

www.joinmidi.com

www.myalloy.com

www.Evernow.com

www.thepauselife.com

www.dexascan.com

www.handexer.com

Instagram Sources:

Dr. Mary Claire Haver - @drmaryclaire

Dr. Vonda Wright - @drvondawright

Dr. Kate White - @drkatewhiteobgyn

Dr. Kelly Casperson - @kellycaspersonmd

Dr. Corinne Menn - @drmennobgyn

If you'd like to share your story and discuss living with chronic illness, reach out to us on Instagram or through our email.

Find us on Instagram: @our_invisible_life_podcast

Email: ourinvisiblelifepodcast@gmail.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bJteZ9wgTNf6dyUCxkP2R

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/887cd445-8807-4944-82a3-4a1ab237ed74