Kerry Wong lives in Westchester, NY, with her husband, the boy next door she had a crush on since she was a child. She was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 2015, after an 8-year search for answers. Though disabled, Kerry remains active as a writer and advocate for the rare disease and chronic illness communities. Her goal is to help others living with these conditions feel seen, validated, and empowered. She recently published Kaleidoscope: Rare Disease Stories, a diverse collection of true stories told by nearly 50 rare disease warriors, and plans to expand this into a series. Through her column, Kerry shares how chronic illness has led to transformation, and invites readers to float with her, “like a Buttahfly.”
Kerry Wong
On any given day, at any given moment, we can see signs of conflict all around us. Wars, protests, he said/she said disputes. Personally, I vacillate between watching the news every waking moment (the…
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Kerry Wong
“Optimist: Someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s a cha-cha.” — Robert Brault This is exactly what sarcoidosis is like. It’s like we’re…
Kerry Wong
We’re all familiar with the evolutionary fight-or-flight response. When faced with stress or danger, we go through physiological changes that enable us to either battle a predator (fight) or escape the situation (flight).
Kerry Wong
Happy New Year! By now, we’ve all hopefully recovered from the holidays and are starting to get into the groove of 2022, hoping and planning for a better year. The recovery may be a…
Kerry Wong
I’ve been reading through my recent columns, and I noticed that I frequently mention how tremendously helpful therapy is. There are a few reasons for that. When I started my blog in 2010,…
Kerry Wong
I’ve never been very good with boundaries. I’ll respect yours, sure. But when it comes to setting my own and sticking to them, not so much. Over the years, this has taken its toll…
Kerry Wong
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. It’s not about material things, or one religion over another, or one-upping anyone with decorations or extravagant gifts. It’s simply a day of…
Kerry Wong
Yesterday, I made vegetable curry for dinner, and it was a big deal. Well, it was for me. I’ve never been much of a cook. When I was 15, I “wooed” my husband by…
Kerry Wong
The sarcoidosis community took a serious hit when we learned of fellow warrior Rodney Reese’s passing on Sept. 25. A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Rodney was also a friend, brother, and father figure…
Kerry Wong
Back when I was healthy, I’d work up to three jobs at a time and volunteer on top of that. My husband’s work schedule was based on seniority, and because he was relatively new…
Kerry Wong
The other day, I sent a message to my rheumatologist asking about getting a third shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. It was 11 p.m. on a Sunday, but I had to send it before…
Kerry Wong
It seems there’s a commemorative day for just about everything. Today alone apparently is the Gold Cup Parade, National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day (I’m all for that), National Radio Day, and World Mosquito…
Kerry Wong
The other day, I was sitting on the couch recuperating from my shower. (Yes, for many people with sarcoidosis, a shower is an Olympic event that requires planning, preparation, and recovery — but that’s…
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