Just Keep Swimming – a Column by Janneke Phung

Janneke Phung is a 36-year-old mother to three boys and is married to a wonderfully supportive husband. Janneke lives in Calgary, Alberta, where she takes full advantage of being surrounded by both prairies and mountains. Running her home, feeding her family, homeschooling her 6-year-old and keeping her 3-year-old twins out of trouble is her full-time job. In October 2019, after years of health struggles and needing to advocate for herself, she was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, which prompted her to make drastic changes to her lifestyle. Her motto is to “Just Keep Swimming” in the face of adversity, with hope in perseverance and passion about advocating for others who struggle with rare diseases

February 26, 2021February 24, 2021

Why It’s Important to Have People Who Validate Your Pain

Columns, Just Keep Swimming – a Column by Janneke Phung

“I love you, dud!” I hollered after my 3-year-old son as he blissfully skipped back to play with his brothers. (It’s unfortunate that while I had meant to say, “I ... Read more

February 24, 2021February 22, 2021

Beauty for Ashes: Finding the Good in the Suffering

Columns, Just Keep Swimming – a Column by Janneke Phung

Have you ever felt like you drew the short end of the stick in life? Do other people seem to have more reasons to be joyful than you do? When ... Read more

February 11, 2021February 9, 2021

Here Are the Dietary Changes That Reduced My AS Symptoms

Columns, Just Keep Swimming – a Column by Janneke Phung

“What did you say you can’t eat?” my friend asked me in shock as we casually strolled along a river path. I recently had decided to tackle my ankylosing spondylitis ... Read more

January 28, 2021January 25, 2021

After Diagnosis, I Discovered That Knowledge Boosts My Confidence

Columns, Just Keep Swimming – a Column by Janneke Phung

When I recently was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, I was confronted with complicated terminology that initially overwhelmed me. Klebsiella pneumoniae, molecular mimicry, cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha — the list of ... Read more

January 14, 2021January 11, 2021

After Diagnosis, Treatment Options Can Boost Hope

Columns, Just Keep Swimming – a Column by Janneke Phung

On Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, I was informally diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. I had already unknowingly suffered the symptoms of AS for years. Realizing I was suffering from an incurable ... Read more

December 10, 2020December 8, 2020

When ‘Imagined’ Pain Becomes a Real Diagnosis

Columns, Just Keep Swimming – a Column by Janneke Phung

I showed up at my doctor’s office with stickers all over my back. The pain usually was most severe in the middle of the night. Yet, I was always surprised ... Read more

December 3, 2020November 30, 2020

What My Nightly Struggle With Invisible Illness Looked Like

Columns, Just Keep Swimming – a Column by Janneke Phung

At 3:30 a.m., I sat in bed gasping for air with acute pain in my chest. Like every other night, I had gone to bed at 10 p.m. after completing ... Read more

November 19, 2020November 17, 2020

Just Keep Swimming

Columns, Just Keep Swimming – a Column by Janneke Phung

Have you ever watched the movie “Finding Nemo?” If you have, you might recall the scene in which Dory, the optimistic, forgetful, and friendly fish, tells her newfound fish friend ... Read more