Overcoming Adversity
My best hallucination yet! A Visit from the Phantom Foot Massager
During lunchtime today, I went to my nap room at work, cuddled up into my lovely blanket from Ireland and quickly fell asleep. Next thing, I awoke to the most AMAZING foot massage!! Oh la la. My feet were sore from intense yoga classes over the weekend, so I really appreciated the free yummy foot massage from…. um…. my phantom foot…
Read MoreWhat does cataplexy look like? GIF by Eleanor of www.Falling-Asleep.com
Check out this amazing depiction of terrifying symptom of #narcolepsy called CATAPLEXY – created by Eleanor of Falling Asleep: A Narcolepsy Guidebook. Please note: this character is fully conscious and awake yet crumbling to the ground paralyzed. It’s terrifying. For more infographics, blogs and resources: www.falling-asleep.com Commentary by Julie Flygare: I was 22 when my knees fight buckled while…
Read MoreEver Met Someone with Narcolepsy? Or Feeling ALONE with Narcolepsy?
I recently created my first Flipagram, highlighting the NARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE campaign! I hope you enjoy and please share with friends and family. Watch here: Thanks for watching my first Flipagram! NARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE has over 1,200 photos of people with narcolepsy and supporters from all 50 U.S. States and 48 countries around the world. Of course, this campaign is not…
Read MoreNARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE takes over the French Alps!
Say HELLO to Ben who shares a monumental message of hope and narcolepsy awareness from 5,800 feet in the air. Thanks to Ben, NARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE is now inscribed on a scenic snow-topped mountaintop in the French Alps, along a popular chair-lift route for every single ski resort visitor to see until the next snow…
Read MoreVisiting Ireland to Speak at Ireland’s Narcolepsy Awareness Day 2016
This National Sleep Awareness Week, I had the honor of traveling to Ireland to be the keynote speaker at Ireland’s 4th Annual Suddenly Sleepy Saturday Narcolepsy Event on March 12, 2016. This experience, and my entire trip to Ireland, was totally unforgettable and surreal. After the long journey from Los Angeles to Ireland, I arrive in…
Read MoreHappy Rare Disease Day 2016!
Today, February 29 is Rare Disease Day! With 350 million people around the world living with a rare disease, HUG someone with a RARE DISEASE today. For Rare Disease Day 2016, I was SO honored to contribute to two great articles for Mashable’s Social Good program. Author, Katie Dupere eloquently describes: “For those living with rare…
Read MoreNap Shame. I’ve got it. Do you?
In this short audio clip, I explore my feelings of shame and embarrassment around taking a nap at work. (Also available here) Do you have nap shame or are you an empowered napper? I want to hear your thoughts!
Read MorePowerful Perspective: Becoming a Doctor with Narcolepsy
Don’t miss this highly captivating post Becoming a Doctor with Narcolepsy, now published on Project Sleep’s website. The author is a third year medical student diagnosed with narcolepsy a year and a half ago, after suffering symptoms since age 15. In this moving reflection, the medical student contemplates a tough decision: whether or not to disclose her diagnosis…
Read MorePodcast: A conversation about narcolepsy, Homer Simpson, memoir writing and marathon running.
Check out this fun podcast! I was so honored to be featured on “Just Talking Podcast” with Christopher Snider. I met Chris at MedX, he is the creator of mydiabetessecret.com and an incredible role model and ePatient leader who is shining a bright light on the power of the patient voice. It’s funny when someone you look…
Read MoreCelebrating 3 years of Wide Awake and Dreaming: A Memoir of Narcolepsy – An Honest Reflection
Writing for me is time-traveling. On January 16, 2012, I sipped a steaming hot soy latte at my favorite coffee shop in Arlington, Virginia, cued up the classical piano in my headphones and closed my eyes. Here we go! On this day, my time-traveling destination was a hotel room in Albany, New York – four years earlier. The subject…
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