linaMPN

Patient Leader

I am what I call a professional patient, and part time blogger/patient advocate. I was diagnosed at the age of 18 with a very rare blood cancer called Essential Thrombocytosis. After a period of time spent with my head buried in the sand, I decided I needed to be a more organized and proactive patient. Ever since then I have been active on message boards, and tried to attend as many patient meetings as I could. In order to reach my fellow patients and their caregiveres more easily, I created my online Advocate persona, LinaMPN. I write at linampn.com, and also guest blog for mpnrf.blogspot.com Always remember, you are your own best advocate. if you do not take care of yourself, who will?

Nominations

Lina has been on my radar for a few years now. She was diagnosed with Essential Thrombocythemia in her early 20s and decided that it wouldn't rule her life - she would rule it by becoming knowledgeable and then sharing what she's learned with the world. ET is a rare blood disorder for which there is no known cure or even good treatment options for all. Lina perseveres through symptoms in order to blog and Tweet about issues of interest to the MPN (ET is part of a larger group called myeloproliferative neoplasms) community. She offers advice, humor, and sensitivity to a topic that has received very little play. She is a champion to everyone in the MPN community. — Michelle

Be it a witty turn of phrase, an amusing anecdote, or a raw and candid fresh perspective, linampn manages to inform while allowing her own sardonic witticisms and highly entertaining writing style to put a truly human edge in her blog. Working with amazing vigor for one with her condition, she sheds light on MPNs, especially her own essential thrombocytosis, in ways that allow the reader to share her experiences, learn something new with each posting, and thirst for the next article. While many are able to write about medical conditions in dry, clinical tones, linampn is able to make it palatable and educational, in a way to put a smile, if not a wry grin or smirk, on one's face. — Mike