Hollistic health, centred on inner wellness
A Dara Knot Wellness blog
I think some of the best connections with people are made when you give them something to relate to. So today, I thought I’d share why National Unicorn day is important to me, and not just because I’m Scottish 🙂
I’m what’s known as a medical unicorn. The disorders I have are *so rare* that the average GP or health provider won’t have encountered it. My son was an even bigger medical marvel – a true unicorn in some ways – because he had three kidneys.
He was born with them – it wasn’t a transplant. He had three whole kidneys, and one became damaged and necrotic so had to be removed.
And while I was used to a doctor calling students and colleagues over to look at me, hearing ‘hey guys, come look at this kid’s insides’ while sitting in the day unit of our hospital – and dealing with his recovery from major abdominal surgery over the pandemic – was an experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Then there was my gran. Lupus, I’m what’s known as a medical unicorn. The disorders I have are *so rare* that the average GP or health provider won’t have encountered it. My son was an even bigger medical marvel – a true unicorn in some ways – because he had three kidneys. He was born with them – it wasn’t a transplant. He had three whole kidneys, and one became damaged and necrotic so had to be removed.
And while I was used to a doctor calling students and colleagues over to look at me, hearing ‘hey guys, come look at this kid’s insides’ while sitting in the day unit of our hospital – and dealing with his recovery from major abdominal surgery over the pandemic – was an experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Then there was my gran. Lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome and Raynaud’s Phenomenon, weird issues with her kidneys and more. You could say that we’re a family of unicorns. To be honest though, it was really quite stressful. The saying about zebras and hoofbeats is important to remember with our family – it’s hard to tell if we’re being normal – and normally? We’re not. It’s ‘normal’ for our family, but I honestly, think that my GP sometimes sees that I’ve made an appointment and their stomach sinks, cause I’m just a wild little handful. My favourite GP will deny it, but honestly? I just feel rotten going along and asking about something I know might be a can of worms. Even me being anaemic is a can of worms.
The thing about medical unicorns is we need to wait for specialists, and we present with symptoms that need careful management. And it’s the stress of that, and the uncertainty that I think is the thing that Dara Knot Wellness is specialised to support. From journaling prompts to supporting you with a community that has knowledge of the reality you could be facing, we’ll be here for you.
You’ll note I never said why I’m a unicorn. And I did that deliberately – I talk about my medical adventures on two blogs linked from my bio, but I live with Status Migrainosus (which affects less than 1% of the up to 23% of people in the UK that live with migraines), an autoimmune, Gilbert’s (it’s a benign liver disorder that means I become jaundiced ‘faster’ than others (I just have a narrower window, and, as I’m a redhead, it’s easier to spot cause I’m pale as), and I’ve had shingles over five times (which is to do with my immune system). I also end up anaemic and low B12 at various points over a five year period. So, hi, if you’re a unicorn like me. Join the community and we can talk!
D Kai Wilson-Viola is an author, activist and lifelong learner. She believes in open, honest communication and holistic wellness that looks not only at how fit you are, but how fit your mind and emotions are in with it. A survivor with CPTSD and anxiety, Kai offers help and her shoulder to anyone that needs it.
When not managing blogs or coding, Kai can be found training at LudoSport, writing books of her own, editing for others, formatting and playing computer games. She has two cats and has been in a long term relationship for over 20 years.
All advice and information offered on this site is offered as is, and you should discuss any treatments you undertake with your GP or other healthcare provider. Unless otherwise identified, our experiences are shared in good faith, but are anecdotal and do not constitue medical advice, but instead, a starting point for your own healing journey.
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