Straight Paths With Crooked Lines — Susanna VanVickle

I grew up in a missionary family, and we were constantly moving. By the time I was in the fourth grade, we’d lived in six different countries. Moving around the world, experiencing new cultures, and interacting with all kinds of people were formative for me. I love travel, adventure, and…

My oldest sons, twins Michael and Anthony, have Fabry disease. Their symptoms have been present since childhood, but back then, we didn’t know that Fabry was the culprit. The boys’ health issues became more pronounced during their tumultuous teen years, leading to genetic testing for our…

Note: This column describes the experiences of the author’s children with various enzyme replacement therapies. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. “Straight Paths With Crooked Lines,” my column, describes the VanVickle family’s journey with Fabry disease,…

The sizzle of burgers on backyard grills, the plop of fishing lures cast into lake waters, and the crack of the home run ball are sounds announcing “summer is here!” Across America, ballparks, amusement parks, zoos, lakes, forests, and beaches are coming alive as people brave the beating sun to…

Clad in a sweaty helmet, shoulder pads, and practice gear, an 11-year-old football player pushes through the pain of cramping and burning feet. Hiding his tears, he doesn’t complain because he wants to be tough, play hard, and lead the team to victory. Would it have been a relief for…

Last in a series. Read part one and part two. In this three-part interview series, I am happy to share the candid, personal perspectives of my three children with Fabry disease. I’ve already spoken with Marisa, 13, and Michael, 21. This final installment offers a peek into…

Second in a series. Read part one here. When our family was learning about our Fabry disease mutation, we heard about the inactivation of X chromosomes (where the mutation is found) and how Fabry disease thus presents differently in every female. That’s proven true in the…

First in a series. “Do you have time to talk?” Chris’ ominous voice over the phone caught me off guard. “Yes,” I answered and quickly shut my bedroom door to keep my five noisy kids from interrupting. Chris is a physician assistant married to my sister, and on that summer…

I walk into the small Jazzercise studio, where I regularly enjoy breaking a sweat, moving to music, and sharing space with upbeat people. Fall decor is on the walls. A rustic sign reads, “It is not happy people who are thankful. It’s thankful people who are happy.” These words ring…

The two clinical sites where our kids began their enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for Fabry disease were staffed by top-notch nurses. My kids enjoyed snacks and entertainment while skilled hands worked IVs into their veins. Making the decision to do home infusions was a natural choice, however. The…