My name is Ashley and I’m a 26-year-old from Atlanta, GA. I am the writer, graphic designer, photographer, model, and editor—in chief here at Ashley’s Anatomy. From the outside looking in you wouldn’t know that I live with an autoimmune disease, but surprise! I do. I live life with an invisible illness called Myasthenia Gravis (MG). If you’ve never heard of this disease, then don’t feel bad, some of my doctors and nurses hadn’t either. MG is a rare neuromuscular autoimmune disease that affects your ability to control your voluntary muscles. You can read my blog post about MG here: What is Myasthenia Gravis. Hopefully, you will understand what MG is by the time you leave my site.
I was attending Georgia State University in 2017. Ironically enough I was in school studying to become a Respiratory Therapist. See, MG affects your breathing muscles tremendously! It’s a huge respiratory concern. I started having double vision, couldn’t form a smile, or chew my food at the end of my days at school. I finally visited my primary care physician. I was officially diagnosed in my junior year of the program (April 2017). I’m happy to share that I stayed in school and graduated with a bachelor’s in respiratory therapy. Yep, that’s right it’s Ashley Brooks, RRT. I’ve worked as a pediatric and adult therapist. I’ve even had the pleasure of treating other patients with Myasthenia Gravis.
Although I was familiar with MG from school, I still scourged the internet for support groups, chat forums, blogs, and everything under the sun when I was newly diagnosed (still do). I searched for stories and advice from other women dealing with life with an autoimmune disease. I created Ashley’s Anatomy to serve as a resource for others. I try my best to update relevant resources here: MG Resource Guide. My goal is to share my story and experiences with the hope of helping someone in a similar position. I use my unique experiences to raise awareness, educate, and support others with chronic illness.
Ashley’s Anatomy is a beauty and chronic illness blog. I have integrated my passion for beauty and wellness products into my overall mission. I am a lover of beauty products and a sucker for a beautifully packaged product. I aim to provide honest product reviews. If you have any questions or just want someone to chat with, please always feel free to reach out whether via comments, email, or my contact page.
Seen on: VoyageATL
