People Stories

Meet Malea Wilson, a dedicated teacher, IgCares Patient Educator, and someone navigating the challenges of living with primary immunodeficiency (PI). Read on to explore her journey through PI treatment.

A Childhood Shadowed by Persistent Illness

I was that child who seemed to catch every bug, consistently bringing home various illnesses. My mom would take me to the doctor, and the response was often, “She’s just a kid; kids get sick. It’s just an ear infection. It’s just strep.” From frequent ear infections as an infant to the removal of my tonsils and adenoids …

Hello, I’m Bryan, and I’ve been navigating life with Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID), specifically dealing with Hypogammaglobulinemia (a mouthful, isn’t it?). Rather than delving into the general implications (you can always look that up if you’re curious), I’d like to share how CVID has shaped my journey, offering insights into how I manage its impact on my life. My intention is to pay forward the invaluable guidance, hope, and inspiration I’ve received from fellow CVID individuals. There’s one person, whom I encountered briefly in the hospital, whose influence on my life remains …

Get to know Laurel Cherwin, a patient with Primary Immunodeficiency (PI), advocate, and Clinical Nurse Educator at Octapharma. Join her as she delves into her insights on the tradeoffs in infusion modes of administration, personal preferences, and important considerations when contemplating a change in treatment.

Laurel’s Background

Providing some context, my journey with Primary Immunodeficiency (PI) started with a diagnosis at the age of 49. Battling recurrent ear, sinus, respiratory, skin, and urinary tract infections, coupled with systemic inflammation, I also faced the challenge of…