Author: Mariah Z Leach

September 2021 marked the 6th Annual Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month (RDAM), a national awareness event sponsored by the American College of Rheumatology and its public awareness campaign, Simple Tasks. RDAM was created to raise awareness of the 100+ conditions under the umbrella of rheumatic disease. I was excited to have the opportunity to participate in a webinar in recognition of RDAM: Rheum4You: Reproductive Health & Rheumatic Disease. The webinar featured some of my very favorite rheumatologists (whose research I’ve been following for years!) and it focused on reproductive health and parenting with rheumatic disease. You can watch the webinar below!…

In recent years, new drugs called “biosimilars” have become available in the United States, and in the summer of 2023 at least eight new competitors to adalimumab (Humira) will be introduced. This article from the Arthritis Foundation explains how these new biologic drugs compare with existing ones, and addresses whether biosimilars should be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Biosimilar Safety in Pregnancy

Parenting is a challenging and rewarding experience, but for those living with chronic illness, it can be even more complex. In this episode of the Crunchy Allergist Podcast, Dr. Kara Wada talks with Mariah Leach. Both moms with chronic illness, they share personal experiences parenting with chronic illness and discuss the unique challenges and strategies they have developed to manage their health and meet the needs of their families. Learn more about the episode and find a transcript here! Find the the Crunchy Allergist on Apple Podcasts.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as a gift from the author, but all opinions expressed in this review are my own. If you’ve ever looked at a parenting website, it’s not unusual to see advice or jokes focused on the toll parenthood can take on a couple’s sex life. In fact, it’s such an obvious reality for most parents that there doesn’t seem to be much guilt or stigma involved in trying to improve your sex life after having kids. While I am now a parent of three small children (who certainly do impact our sex life!)…

When I originally started looking for information on planning a pregnancy while living with rheumatoid arthritis, the very first place I looked was the Arthritis Foundation, since I knew they were a trusted resource with medically-verified information. While they did have a few articles on the subject back then, I always wished for more. So I’m super exited to share that now there is a lot more! The Arthritis Foundation recently launched an entire hub of their website dedicated to family planning, pregnancy, and parenting!! There are some great pregnancy planning topics, such as: family planning; genetic risks; preparing for…

When she was just six-years-old Rikki Stinnette’s mom was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This life-changing diagnosis not only impacted her mother, it also altered the course of Rikki’s life. Based on her own experiences as a child, Rikki was inspired to write and direct a short film, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review it. (You can also check out Rikki’s article where she shares four reasons that having a mom with RA made her a better adult!) In a little more than ten minutes, Revenge of the Electric Cart took me on an emotional roller coaster…

A friend of mine was walking through target the other day when she came across this book: Horizontal Parenting – How To Entertain Your Kid While Lying Down by Michelle Woo. It sounded right up my alley, so I bought a copy to review! This book is aimed at parents in general – because every parent has days when they just want to lie down. But I do love that this book (and the fact that it’s for sale in a mainstream place like Target) normalizes the fact that all parents have their own bodies and their own energy levels.…

Sometimes kids need help understanding chronic illness and disability, as well as recognizing and processing their own feelings. We hope these topics are an ongoing discussion in your family, and we love to review children’s books that may help you along the way! Some Days: A Tale of Love, Ice Cream, and My Mom’s Chronic Illness By Julie A. Stamm Mariah Z Leach received a free digital version of the book from the author. She was not compensated for this review and all opinions are her own. This is a story about Wyatt and his mom, Rosie. Wyatt explains that…

Sometimes kids need help understanding chronic illness and disability, as well as recognizing and processing their own feelings. We hope these topics are an ongoing discussion in your family, and we love to review children’s books that may help you along the way! What Does Super Jonny Do When Mom Gets Sick? By Simone Colwill Mamas Facing Forward purchased a copy of this book to review, and then gave it away in a raffle on Instagram. All opinions in this review belong to Mariah Z. Leach. Jonny loves to play superhero. When his mom gets sick and needs to go…

Kids between the ages of 4 and 12 are building their own lives, with school, sports and hobbies. But they still need plenty of practical help and guidance from their parents, whether that’s playing taxi, checking up on homework, packing school and gym bags or managing their social calendars with play dates, birthday parties and extracurricular activities…Managing your kids’ lives can be challenging and overwhelming for any parent, but even more so if you’re living with a chronic illness like MS, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. Your health condition can limit your mobility, making it difficult to drop your kids off…