Coping Strategies
Service dog gives Island Heights girl freedom
Story Category:
Coping Strategies Apparently, no one told Emily that dogs are supposed to be man's best friend.
As the 11-year-old led her dog Sadie around the room, her beaming grin was the biggest hint that the fluffy white Labradoodle was more than a service dog; she was a friend.
Although Sadie is the family pet for Emily Dragos, she was purchased with the intention of being trained to help the young girl, who suffers from an unknown genetic syndrome that brings a plethora of health problems, affecting mobility and socialization.
Rare Disease of Interest:
All Diseases
Woman Makes New Life After "Miracle" Transplant
Story Category:
Coping Strategies Kristin Molini Survived Five-Organ Transplant; Celebrates One-Year Mark with "Rebirthday"
Kristin Molini had prepared herself to die.
The 22-year-old was diagnosed with a rare medical condition, intestinal dysmotility, a disease that paralyzed her digestive organs and left her jaundiced and extremely frail.
She reached a point where she weighed only 74 pounds and was living off IV nutrition and pain killers.
"That was my life," she said. " ... I was almost ready, knowing that I was gonna go."
Rare Disease of Interest:
All Diseases
Dying UVic Student Receives Degree from Hospital Bed
Story Category:
Coping Strategies BY KATIE DEROSA
There are a lot of things Eva Markvoort wanted to do before she dies. Despite her failing health, the University of Victoria student, who has cystic fibrosis, wanted to finish her bachelor degree. In the end, it proved impossible.
On Wednesday, however, the 25-year-old theatre student received her fine arts degree from her hospital bed at Vancouver General Hospital, as faculty members scrambled to get it to her before it was too late.
Rare Disease of Interest:
All Diseases
Cystic Fibrosis
