It has been 17 months since my husband, Aubrey, passed away due to complications of hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. Following his diagnosis in…
Sunrise Sunset — Jaime Christmas
Jaime Christmas is a patient advocate and columnist based in Auckland, New Zealand, with her cheeky doggie, Akira. She was a caregiver to a spouse who was afflicted with hATTR amyloidosis. Now she fights for equitable treatment and support for diagnosed patients and their caregivers. Although she now lives without the daily challenges of being a caregiver since her husband’s passing in 2022, she hopes to be still an encourager and listening ear to those presently walking the journey she knows only too well.
As an advocate for the New Zealand Amyloidosis Patients Association since 2019, I am acutely aware that when there is no center of excellence or coordinated care structure in a country, it compounds the already heavy burden on diagnosed individuals, particularly older couples trying to navigate this devastating disease. Even…

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ColumnsMy late husband left behind a legacy of goodness
On Sunday, March 19, I appeared on New Zealand’s 1News to discuss my journey as a caregiver to my late husband, Aubrey, who had…
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ColumnsA year later, I’m ready to move forward after the loss
This column has been a year in the making. When my late husband, Aubrey, passed away in May 2022 from hereditary ATTR amyloidosis,…
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ColumnsLearning to face a new year without my husband
In the blink of an eye, we’re already approaching the third month of 2023. For me, the ushering in of a new year came with…
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ColumnsHow We Navigated My Late Husband’s Amyloidosis Diagnosis
I have previously written about the importance of staying positive despite our circumstances. Whether you are a patient or a caregiver to a…
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ColumnsMonths After Losing My Husband, I’m Finding My Footing Once Again
This column will be my 94th since starting “Sunrise, Sunset.” My caregiving experience has taken me through many ups and downs and countless…
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ColumnsPromoting Amyloidosis Awareness to Create a Better Future
Late last week, to drive disease awareness, I took to the streets in downtown Auckland, New Zealand, and asked random people if they had heard…
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ColumnsFinding Silver Linings in Life, Even After Suffering a Loss
It’s been over four months since I lost my husband, Aubrey, to hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. The vacuum he’s left behind in the lives…
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ColumnsWhy Advocacy Is Important for New Zealanders With Rare Diseases
Life is full of twists and turns. I was a caregiver for nine years until this past May, when my husband passed away from…
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ColumnsHow the Pharmaceutical Industry Can Help Patient Advocates
I recently attended an amyloidosis scientific conference in Heidelberg, Germany, that was a productive and empowering experience. As a former caregiver to a spouse…
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ColumnsAllowing Time to Let Go After the Loss of a Husband
Two weeks after the passing of my husband, Aubrey, my four children decided that the company of a new puppy…
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ColumnsCollaboration Between Patient Advocates and the Scientific Community Brings Me Hope
By the time this column is published, I will be halfway across the world, traveling to Heidelberg, Germany, for the International Symposium on Amyloidosis.
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