essay

The history of ME deserves a late-night spotlight. That’s why we started the #JohnVsJonVsME campaign.

Commentary, Policy & Advocacy

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By

sick times

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March 31, 2025

In a crisis-filled world, breaking through the noise requires creativity, strategy — and, occasionally, a really good meme. This is precisely why the #JohnVsJonVsME campaign began.
Long COVID data are being erased, again

Commentary

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By

Betsy Ladyzhets

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March 25, 2025

The lack of comprehensive Long COVID case counts may be considered one of public health’s greatest failures. But as we enter the sixth year of this ongoing pandemic, U.S. institutions are sweeping this mass disabling event under the rug perhaps more than ever before. We can’t let them get away with it.
A serendipitous friendship taught me my greatest lesson in living with Long COVID: How to just be

Commentary

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By

Christina Igaraividez

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March 21, 2025

It’s difficult for me to tell people about Long COVID because it’s impossible for them to understand how someone who looks so “normal” can be so sick. Most of the time, I don’t say anything. But something about Bianca’s warmth made me feel like I could. Little did I know, meeting her would lead me…
The sick soft butch who did: How confronting a racist in my neighborhood helped me claim my Long COVID identity

Commentary

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By

Heather Hogan

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March 18, 2025

The last thing I thought before I smashed, face first, into the New York City sidewalk, was, Dang, my wife’s going to want me to start taking my cane with me everywhere I go. But mostly, I was worried one of my neighbors would watch me tumble over and go limp.
Our community came together to start International Long COVID Awareness Day in 2023. Here’s how you can get involved this year.

Commentary, Policy & Advocacy

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By

Angela Laffin

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March 14, 2025

March 15, 2025 marks the third annual observance of Long COVID Awareness Day. Efforts organized around the day educate the public on Long COVID, and put pressure on governments, policymakers, public health officials, and healthcare workers to take action on the disease.
Accurate statistics for ME and Long COVID are vital. That’s why I started a patient-led organization to “crunch” the diseases.

Commentary, Policy & Advocacy

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By

Rory Preston

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March 11, 2025

Since falling ill with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in 2018, it has frustrated me greatly seeing organizations and especially governments repeating out-of-date statistics related to this disease — minimizing either the apparent number of sufferers (such as the much-repeated 250,000 figure for the number of ME patients in the UK) or our degree of suffering.
Half a decade of Long COVID

Commentary

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By

Miles W. Griffis

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March 7, 2025

Looking back on half a decade, there have been numerous milestones in Long COVID research, advocacy, and greater societal awareness, many led by people with the disease. There has also been, and continues to be, a lot of loss.
The Long COVID unicorn: How I lost faith in my leftist political party

Commentary

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By

Sam Williams

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February 25, 2025

During a Zoom meeting with a member of my local Green Party, I asked to give an in-person speech about the COVID-19 policy and my own experiences. I was excited to give my speech about Long COVID. I thought I would be speaking to a friendly crowd who understood the threat of COVID-19, but I…
Invivyd Chairman Marc Elia: The bureaucracy is killing people with Long COVID

Commentary

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By

Marc Elia

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February 14, 2025

The Biden administration failed to prioritize innovative solutions that could alleviate or prevent the worsening of this crisis. Instead, they relied on short-acting, marginally-effective COVID-19 vaccines while restricting the development and availability of new medicines that could dramatically change health outcomes for millions.
My husband and I have both had ME for decades, then our son got Long COVID

Commentary

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By

Linda Fuchs

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February 6, 2025

When our seventeen-year-old son Nick developed Long COVID after suffering a pulmonary haemorrhage in 2022, like any parents, we were devastated. But for us it hit harder. History was repeating itself — and it was something we had dreaded since having children.