Sophia Feng

I was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease in 2021. I spent the next three years trying to understand my diagnosis, and resorted to hiding it from others because I wanted to feel normal. Eventually, I would come to realize that this strategy would not work, especially since I sometimes had to miss school for doctor’s appointments and began to develop symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath. It became difficult for me to do the things I enjoyed, and I felt stuck knowing that I had to limit my activities because of my illness. I became tired of trying to keep up, tired of all the things this illness has taken away from me, and tired of the lack of support that existed with my condition. 

I advocate because I understand that I have the power to make a change. In the United States, rheumatic heart disease is considered rare and is often forgotten because it seen as a disease that only affects other parts of the world. I believe that my story has the power to make an impact, and I want to fight for support not only for people living with chronic illness in the US, but to also advocate for better health equity across the world. I want people with chronic illness to feel like people that are capable of pursuing their dreams and that they can make a positive impact in the world instead of feeling like they are just a statistic or a burden.