Episode 91: Katie Gillick - Hypoparathyroidism
Katie’s journey with hypoparathyroidism began unexpectedly, following surgery for thyroid cancer in her twenties. What followed was a profound period of uncertainty, brain fog, fatigue and loss of independence, during which Katie often had to become her own advocate while struggling with the very symptoms that made advocacy difficult.
Her story is also one of resilience, community and partnership. She describes how family and friends helped her through some of her darkest moments, how a clinical trial became a turning point in her treatment journey, and how working alongside her physician, the patient community, pharmaceutical companies and the FDA ultimately helped bring a treatment to patients.
Most importantly, Katie reflects on what it means to have your voice heard when living with a rare or chronic condition. Her message to everyone working with patients is beautifully simple: patients need to feel heard, understood and believed.
The song that Katie chose is The Cure by Little Mix.
