On April 1, Malaysia’s borders reopened to international travelers following COVID-19-related closures, and I finally had the pleasure of visiting my family who lives…
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.
HATTR-PN
ColumnsATTR amyloidosis treatment exists, but for many, it’s not accessible
A transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) diagnosis is life-altering. This progressive disease causes abnormal protein deposits to slowly accumulate in structures such as the heart and nerves. Left untreated, ATTR cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) can shorten life expectancy to within a few years after diagnosis. My late husband, Aubrey, was diagnosed with…

HATTR-PN
ColumnsMy Calendar Helps Me Remember Past Medical Events
In my work as a patient advocate for the New Zealand Amyloidosis Patients Association, I occasionally need to assemble content for the awareness…
HATTR-PN
ColumnsTaking a Break From Caregiving to Visit Family
After almost three years of not seeing my family, I’m finally back in Malaysia to spend some quality time with my father, siblings, and children.
HATTR-PN
ColumnsHow My Husband and I Feel About Being Offered Palliative Care
For the first time since my husband, Aubrey, was diagnosed with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis in 2013, his care team brought up the subject of…
HATTR-PN
ColumnsFeeling at Home at the Hospital
As a caregiver to a spouse with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis, I’ve become familiar with our local hospital. The countless appointments and stays that…
HATTR-PN
ColumnsFinding a Path to Wellness for Diagnosed Patients
Having a chronic illness is never easy, both for the sufferers and their caregivers. My name is Jaime Christmas, and my husband, Aubrey, started feeling…
HATTR-PN
ColumnsIt’s Important for Caregivers to Receive Care, Too
As I write this, my husband is in the hospital due to complications of hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. Aubrey, 58, was diagnosed in 2013, and…
HATTR-PN
ColumnsChange in the Air: We’re Mulling Becoming Medical Refugees
Every so often, my husband, Aubrey, and I go through this exercise where we evaluate our circumstances in life and decide if we should shake…
HATTR-PN
ColumnsIt’s Important to Make Positive Memories Despite the Pandemic
The day arrived when COVID-19 stepped into our home via our youngest daughter. She found out that a university classmate who’d sat next to her…
HATTR-PN
ColumnsDisease Awareness Can Lead to Better Outcomes
In 2018, Gov. Bill Haslam made Tennessee the first U.S. state to declare March as Amyloidosis Awareness Month. Since then, those diagnosed with…
HATTR-PN
ColumnsLamentations Let Us Move On to Strength
Every week I write my column using my personal experience as a caregiver to a spouse diagnosed with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. Writing demonstrates…
HATTR-PN
ColumnsValidating a Painful Experience Builds Resilience
As a columnist, I try to read and expose myself to topics that might inform my writing. Recently, I came across a phrase that piqued…
Recent Posts
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- Women with ATTR-CM face gaps in treatment, new study reports
- Real-world study finds Amvuttra helps keep hATTR-PN, life quality stable