Untold Stories: Life with a Severe Autoimmune Condition

Martine Hackett returns with a new season of Untold Stories: Life with a Severe Autoimmune Condition. The best stories unite us, empower us, and help us push forward—against all odds. This season, we’re growing our community, and welcoming voices from myositis and IgAN to the fold. We are stronger, together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Sandy was diagnosed with MG at age 60, she was forced to retire early, leaving behind the job she loved and facing her golden years with unanticipated hurdles. Now 15 years later, Sandy spends her days organizing her local support group, enjoying lunches with her friends, and attending her grandson's sporting events. MG may have thrown a wrench in her retirement plans, but it can’t slow her down for long.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After closing her beloved yoga studio and losing her mother, Tanya Chiu was faced with a new challenge–she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Her story is one of resilience, reclaiming purpose and rediscovering joy when life takes an unexpected turn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Corbin is an engineer who faced a dual diagnosis with a 1.8% survival rate as a problem to solve. He didn’t see despair with that number - he saw a possibility. The possibility that, if he was able to keep living, doctors would find a way to increase that number significantly. He did, and today he’s doing well. Crucial to his determination was the CIDP community, which welcomed him with open arms. Corbin shares how he found his community and his jump from advocating for himself to advocating for a movement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamilah went from daily dance rehearsals to struggling to move through her own home, while her symptoms were continuously dismissed. In this episode, hear how finally getting a diagnosis changed everything: from relearning her body and rebuilding relationships to finding connection again in a whole new way of life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jasmine is a career coach, wife, and mother who is newly diagnosed with CIDP but no stranger to fighting for her health. After years of navigating lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, Jasmine learned how to push back, speak up, and keep going. Join Martine for the season 4 premiere as Jasmine shares what it’s like to face a new diagnosis mid-journey, and why she refuses to stay silent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this special season three finale, Martine is joined by Kathy Perez, Head of Global Patient Advocacy at argenx. They reflect on some of the most impactful and moving moments from guests this season. Kathy asks Martine about her favorite learnings and takeaways as host of the show. While life with autoimmune conditions like MG or CIDP includes a wide range of emotions, Kathy and Martine dig into perhaps the strongest of them all: hope. Whether managing frustrations or juggling the physical changes and pain, hope is what continues to shine through as a beacon for perseverance. Together, Kathy and Martine underscore the transformative power of sharing each untold story, building a strong community, and demonstrating how fostering hope becomes armor for adversity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig’s CIDP journey began in college when growing symptoms and fatigue halted his running career and confined him to a cane, then a wheelchair. But from the very beginning, Craig remained positive and focused on finding answers. Having seen some videos about CIDP, he worked with his doctor to determine his official diagnosis. Craig’s curiosity and hunger for problem-solving inspired him to explore holistic approaches to supporting his overall health. Now Craig uses his experiences and creativity to pay it forward and connect with others through his own YouTube channel. Though his life took a considerable pivot, Craig navigates his health journey with a bit of humor and a lot of gratitude.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasha has always faced life’s challenges head-on. Diagnosed with MG at the young age of 6, she quickly learned the importance of self-confidence. At 29, an MG crisis pushed her to manage her health from a new perspective. From her hospital bed, she created a nonprofit aimed not just at sharing her story but also at empowering and inspiring others within the MG community. Despite numerous setbacks, Tasha tapped into a deep well of strength, showcasing the transformative power of believing in oneself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julie is no stranger to adversity. Diagnosed with CIDP at the age of 28, in the midst of motherhood and a full-time job as a special education teacher, Julie quickly found herself balancing it all while managing the debilitating symptoms of her condition. As she started to find a sense of normalcy, life threw her another curveball: her husband was diagnosed with cancer and would now need Julie to care for him. Despite these challenges, Juile was unwilling to give up. She shifted gears, found strength within herself that she never believed possible, and turned her situation into an inspiring journey filled with creativity, passion, and hope for all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martine Hackett returns with season three of “Untold Stories”! This time, she delves deeper than ever into the heart of what it’s like to live with conditions like myasthenia gravis (MG) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). From the frustration of misdiagnosis to the hope of managing symptoms, each emotion along the journey is important. But ultimately, these shared feelings bring the community together and are an essential part of strengthening our connection to others living with a severe autoimmune condition. Join us for new episodes starting May 29th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacqueline, also known as Jacq, lived in New York City with big dreams of succeeding in the fashion industry. However, her life took a significant turn after she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), which had a profound impact on her career and marriage. Jacq faced debilitating symptoms, including many injuries, oftentimes on her own. Her family and her employer could not fully understand the strain and financial responsibility that MG would add to her life. Despite the challenges, Jacqueline found joy in rebuilding her life on her terms and grounded herself in the support of her chosen family. She has been able to cultivate grace and stability through the adjustments in her life and shares her empowering message.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.