I Have a Rare Disease. Here’s Why I Chose to Do a Clinical Trial as a Black Woman

Courtesy of Tasha White My name is Tasha White, and I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis at the young age of six years old. Myasthenia gravis, or MG for short, is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles. For me, the first signs were having episodes where my body would just give out and I’d have to use objects around me like a fire hydrant to pull myself back up. My mom noticed I wasn’t as active as most kids my age, so she persisted in getting me properly diagnosed.  How I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis For me, my first signs were complete body fatigue. I remember being outside playing and my body gave out. I was near a fire hydrate and stop sign that I used to pull myself up. My mom start noticing I wasn’t as active as most kids my age, so she persisted in seeking medical attention for me. Looking back, I was incredibly fortunate to get an early diagnosis and start treatment right away. So many people with MG go years or even decades before finally getting correctly diagnosed due to lack of awareness about this rare condition. My positive...