Austria-born Lena has the rare, genetic skin condition epidermolysis bullosa. She works with DEBRA Austria, an organization that supports “butterfly children,” and with another NGO which functions as an umbrella organization for rare diseases in Austria. She loves to be with family and friends, travel, sing, play sports, eat brunch, read, and spend time in solitude — especially if near the sea.It is vital to take care of your body, especially when you live with a health condition. Otherwise, you might not be able to function or do the things you enjoy due to pain or other symptoms. Because I live with epidermolysis bullosa, a rare condition that causes my…
We all grow up with certain beliefs about ourselves. Sometimes we don’t even question them. Other times, we may realize we were wrong all along. Or, we may choose to hold on to them. If our beliefs are positive, they could help us along our way. If not, they could…
Many people living with rare disease often worry about health issues, government support, insurance, and being accepted by society. But we may also face minor, everyday problems. I was born with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare condition that makes my skin and mucus membranes very fragile. With the wrong…
Growing up with a rare skin condition, such as epidermolysis bullosa (EB), gives a person a lot to worry about and tends to make them want to have control over their environment. Because my skin is missing a certain collagen, the layers of the skin do not stick…
In the spring of 2018, I was lucky enough to meet a member of the Bionews team (the parent company of Epidermolysis Bullosa News) at the European Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products in Vienna. Brad, the director of columns, asked me if I was interested in…
I am in the middle of a big change. It feels like one season of my life is ending, and a new one is slowly beginning. I’m experiencing changes in scenery, people, job, and mindset. I’m ready for something new. But these changes involve a lot of uncertainty, which is…
I live with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare skin condition that makes my skin as fragile as the wings of a butterfly. That’s why we are called “butterfly children.” I like that name. It makes the disease sound beautiful and innocent, even if it is not. But it’s not…
The skin is the body’s largest organ, with a total surface area of about 22 square feet. The skin protects us from microbes and the elements, helps regulate body temperature, and permits the sensations of touch, heat, and cold. In my case, my skin is “special.” I live with…
Last week, I tried something new, something I never thought I could do because of my condition. Many people told me I couldn’t do it, even though it’s a normal experience for most people. A new opportunity My boyfriend opened a restaurant, and I offered to help out during…
This month, I want more diversity. I want to see more reality in the media and in advertisements and commercials. Show us real people who have stretch marks, scars, and imperfections, because that’s normal. Normalize different body types I want society to normalize different body types and to stop body…
This month, I was once again impressed by how well connected the epidermolysis bullosa (EB) community is. I remember when I was younger, no such connection existed on social media like we have today. Rare is many – but not always locally As EB is a rare disease, only a…
A few days ago, a friend working in healthcare communications asked: “What does rare mean for you?” It got me thinking. I answered: “Rare is something special, something unique. Something that doesn’t exist very often. But also, it’s something you should not forget about, something you shouldn’t oversee. Are we…
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