Hi, I’m Carolyn and My Chronic Library is a personal blog detailing my life and learnings of living with MS, my experience undergoing and recovering from an experimental bone marrow transplant (HSCT), my opinions and recommendations for navigating healthcare in the U.S., and all things reading and books.
I endeavor to provide lessons for the chronically ill and impossibly curious. I’m navigating disability in an ableist world and trying to make an impact by helping others through education and advocacy.
I’m a voracious reader, avid traveler, and singer of show tunes. Four years in means there’s a lot of content here. If you don’t fancy scrolling, ask me a question directly!
Read about my former self as well as my thoughts on releasing body shame and comparison in health.
LATEST POSTS
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What I’m Reading: 2024 thus far
Am I bombarding you with book updates and recommendations? Making up for lost time? Moderately manic in my writing as of late? Obviously, yes. Check out my latest must reads for this year.
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How many therapists is too many?
After years of trial and error, I now have three individuals dedicated to different aspects of my mental health. In comparison to my other medical teams, three seems like a small number. Let me reiterate and say it loudly for those in the back row, MENTAL HEALTH DESERVES YOUR ATTENTION TOO!
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2023 Reading Recap (really really late)
My safety net has and will always be books. So even though I haven’t published reading recaps in quite some time, I’ve had many a one-off conversation about recommendations. I will always come back to books. They are my home. They are safety. They are comfort. And when I can’t write, I will read.
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Accessibility For All – put it on the website
Yesterday was an amazing day because after almost eight months of work, Cleveland Clinic published a one-stop-shop for accessibility resources and accessing care at our locations. Don’t presume — specifically in healthcare — that you know what anyone is going through.
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The Disability Tax
There is a disability tax that without invite, attaches to all aspects of your life. People don’t talk about this and probably, unless forced, don’t think about it either. I know I didn’t! There is a loss of personal agency and choice.
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From OR to AND: A New Place in Healing
I think the medical advice of “year-long recovery” for HSCT is a misnomer. But there is progress and there are things happening that matter to me. I am recovering more quickly, I am lasting longer, my endurance has improved.
DON’T MISS OUT ON MY MUSINGS!
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My Chronic Library 