Finding My Peace with Sanfilippo – a Column by Emily Wallis

I have always struggled with anxiety. I have also always been close to my family. When my sister, Abby, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome — a terminal illness with no cure — those two things teamed up to challenge my mental health in a way I’d never experienced before. When…

Since I moved out of my parents’ house, I love coming home on the weekends. I get so excited driving home and thinking about spending much-needed time with my family. My sister, Abby, has Sanfilippo syndrome, a rare, terminal disease that currently has no cure. Along with other…

The holidays can be a difficult time for me. My sister, Abby, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome four years ago, and since then, I find my heart pulled in two directions during the holiday season. On one hand, I’m grateful for the years I had with her before Sanfilippo…

I received a package in the mail last week. It was a test that I will be able to take and send to a lab to find out if I am a carrier for Sanfilippo syndrome. My sister, Abby, has this rare and terminal disease for…

In my previous column, I discussed the importance of finding a balance between all of the emotions that come with being a Sanfilippo sibling. There are so many ups and downs in this life, and finding a place in between those extremes is crucial. My sister, Abby, has…

As a Sanfilippo sibling, I experience many emotions every day. Each feels like a weight on my shoulders, and it takes a balanced mindset to juggle all of them. This is something I still struggle with. My sister, Abby, has Sanfilippo syndrome. It is a rare, terminal disease that currently…

The photo below is one of my favorites of my sister and me. It was taken at my grandparents’ house several years ago, and it often brings me comfort because you can clearly see the love between us. Sanfilippo syndrome takes a lot of things away from our relationship, but…

My favorite animals are sharks. They’ve always fascinated me. An interesting fact I’ve learned is that sharks can smell blood in very small concentrations in water — as low as one part per million! As I contemplated this column, this shark fact, a Sanfilippo event I attended last month,…

It’s important in all aspects of life to find your people. For example, I have my teacher friends, my college friends, and now, we have our Sanfilippo warriors. When someone you love is living with a rare, terminal disease, it’s an indescribable feeling to find people who are walking a…

The four years since my sister, Abby, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome have been a journey, to say the least. She has lost most of her speech and will continue to lose basic life skills as the disease progresses. Our family has had to adjust to a new normal…