People with EDS or rare diseases are often referred to as zebras because of a phrase commonly taught in medical school “When you hear hoofbeats think horses, not zebras.”
This implies that when a patient presents with symptoms, the doctor should look for common diagnoses (horses) rather than rare ones (zebras). In fairness, common diagnoses are common for a reason, but zebras exist too.
These brave girls share my fight against EDS and bodies that don’t quite work right. Sometimes, it can be hard to relate to others when our day-to-day lives so look so different. So, we medical zebras bond over shared suffering and encourage one another when life seems too painful to persevere.
The fight is hard, but we fight together.
