Recharged and Rewired – a Column by Brittany Foster
Brittany is the HR associate for BioNews (the publisher of this site) and a columnist for Pulmonary Hypertension News. Brittany is from the smallest state in the U.S., Rhode Island. She manages multiple chronic conditions including pulmonary hypertension and congenital heart disease. Some of her illnesses are visible, but most are invisible. She hopes that her column, “Recharged and Rewired,” will show those reading that having a body that’s wired a little differently doesn’t keep her from being the best version of herself every day. Brittany is happy to work in the HR department at BioNews because she is passionate about advocating for herself and others who may be going through physical and emotional challenges of living with a rare disease.
When a new doctor enters my hospital room and asks for a brief medical history, the best I can offer is a 15-minute overview of the last few years ... Read more
Taking care of my body requires getting the right nutrition, exercising in ways I can handle, and paying attention to my mental health. Lately, I have noticed that anxiety ... Read more
A few years ago, I thought that talking openly about my fears and worries was a sign of weakness. I convinced myself that being strong meant putting on my ... Read more
Going to college, starting a new job, finding the right person to love, and getting my first apartment all seem like wonderful life accomplishments. I would have thought that graduating from college and ... Read more
After so many years of struggling to find my voice in advocating for my healthcare, today I am proud of how far I have come. Speaking up for my ... Read more
In recent years, I have heard the words “you’ll get used to it” more times than I can count. It’s as if my body and mind are programmed to ... Read more
For almost an entire year, I felt completely lost. Some mornings, I lacked motivation to even get out of bed. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of anxiety ... Read more
When I was younger, I had recurring nightmares about a kidnapping. Usually, I was the hero chasing the kidnapper. These nightmares would spark panic attacks when, in my waking ... Read more
I remember attending a Tim McGraw concert a few years ago. I could have heard a pin drop during a pause in his song, “Live Like You Were Dying,” ... Read more
Sometimes I think my emotions are too much to handle. I find myself wondering if I am overreacting or feeling things too strongly. However, chronic illness has taught me ... Read more