Posts

A screenshot of a zoom call with Ian Harding (left), a man with short brown hair and a full beard, and Karina Sturm (right), a woman with shaved brown hair and large, leaf-shaped earrings.
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In conversation with Ian Harding: actor, author, activist

In my role as journalist for ABILITY Magazine and as advocate for the Ehlers-Danlos community, the German organization Chronisch Cool contacted me and connected me to Ian Harding, better known as Ezra Fitz in Pretty Little Liars. Ian is…
Jacob Fraker, a young man with light brown, short hair and a beard is standing in a park and smiles.
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A Rare Disease Advisory Council and Ombudsperson for California!

A few weeks ago, I met Jacob Fraker, a legislative aid of Assemblymember Susan Eggman at the California State Capitol. More importantly, Jacob is part of the rare disease community as well. He has been living with the rare genetic condition…
Karina, a woman with short black hair and a flower in her hair sits at a podium and answers questions for the audience.Karina Sturm
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Impressions: We Are Visible at Chapman University in Orange, CA

We Are Visible Filmscreening at Chapman University in Orange, CAProf. Beth Haller & Filmmaker Karina Sturm I had the great honor to present my film followed by a short Q&A at Chapman University in Orange, CA. Organized by social…
The Mighty Logo showing white letters on red background
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Newsletter for The Mighty

Part of my work for The Mighty included creating the weekly Ehlers-Danlos syndrome newsletter. Here are some examples:  EDS Newsletter September 20 EDS Newsletter September 27 Epilepsy Newsletter October 2 EDS Newsletter October…
Screenshot of an article called "23 Consequences Of Misdiagnosis People With EDS Had to Deal With"
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Call-out articles for The Mighty

The following are my pieces based on what the community shared with The Mighty. Many people living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome need to apply for disability benefits at some point of their journey. This is what they wished the people who decide…
Karina wears a red The Mighty Shirt and a blue flower in her short, brown hair. She is smiling.
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Internship at The Mighty

During September 2018, I had the great pleasure to work as a temporary staff member for The Mighty, the largest online magazine for people living with chronic illnesses and disabilities. The Mighty shares articles written by authors that have…
Old Building of the Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco with a statue in the foreground.
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Positive Care – a short documentary

Positive Care is a short documentary about the lives of previous and current residents at Laguna Honda's Positive Care Unit in San Francisco.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTEYPmyXH5g&frags=pl%2Cwn
Medical marijuana flowers on table

Pain medication, legalized marijuana and chronic illness

I spoke to Monica who lives with a rare and painful illness called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Find out how she copes with the daily problems, what medication she takes, and what it means to her to live in CA where marijuana is now completely legal. Bild:…
A bottle of Care by Design medical cannabis on a table
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Medical marijuana – a medication in CA, and a drug in Germany

Germany and the US have many apparent differences. However, the gap couldn’t be larger in terms of people discussing marijuana, especially for medical use. Uncountable patients that suffer from chronic pain live in Germany, and many of them…