From Where I Stand - a Column by Erin Paterson

Toronto author Erin Paterson tested gene positive for Huntington’s disease in 2006. Despite the diagnosis she was determined to have a family and live a joyful life. Her work was published in the anthology, “Not Cancelled: Canadian Caremongering in the Face of Covid 19.” She has also been published on TheMighty.com, Adopt4Life.com, CanadaAdopts.com, and TheHuntingtonSociety.ca. Recently, she wrote a memoir about her experiences with Huntington’s disease, infertility, and creating a purposeful life. You can find her online at erinpaterson.com or on Instagram: @erinpaterson_allgoodthings

There Are Many Ways to Be Brave

I was alone in my flower shop, surrounded by a rainbow of fresh flowers and bright orange walls. The warm summer sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling window. Despite the beauty of my surroundings, my mind was at the bottom of a deep, black pit, and I was struggling to get…

I Don’t Want to Live with a Secret Anymore

I made it down the long, sterile hallway and past the waiting room before bursting into tears. My husband gathered me into his arms as I stood there sobbing, unable to move. His shirt quickly became stained with my tears. We paid no attention to the dinging bell and the…