Welcome.
My name is Kia Lorice, and I’m the creator of The Dual Diagnosis Diaries.
This website was born from a simple idea:
The stories behind chronic illness deserve to be told.
Not just the medical stories.
Not just the diagnoses.
But the everyday experiences that happen between appointments, treatments, and test results.
The moments that rarely make it into medical records but shape our lives just the same.
This is where I share those stories.
Some will make you laugh.
Some may make you cry.
Some will educate.
Others may simply remind you that you’re not alone.
No matter how you found your way here, I’m glad you’re here.
💭 How It All Began
My journey with chronic illness began in 2003 when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.
More than twenty years later, I received a second life-changing diagnosis: MuSK-positive Myasthenia Gravis.
Living with one autoimmune disease can be challenging.
Living with two created an entirely new chapter in my life.
As I learned to navigate that reality, I found myself wanting a place to document the lessons, experiences, challenges, and unexpected moments that came along with it.
That desire eventually became The Dual Diagnosis Diaries.
💜 Why The Dual Diagnosis Diaries?
The name reflects the reality that two diagnoses helped shape this chapter of my life.
But this website is about much more than medical conditions.
It is about the human experience behind them.
It’s about adapting when life changes unexpectedly.
It’s about finding purpose in difficult circumstances.
It’s about celebrating victories that others may never see.
And it’s about creating conversations that help people feel less alone.
Every diary entry represents a piece of that journey.
Some are educational.
Some are emotional.
Some are humorous.
And some are simply honest reflections from someone learning to navigate life one day at a time.
🦋 What You’ll Find Here
This space is a blend of personal storytelling, education, advocacy, and encouragement.
Topics may include:
💜 Chronic illness and invisible disabilities
💜 Crohn’s Disease and Myasthenia Gravis
💜 Polyautoimmunity and rare disease awareness
💜 Family, friendships, and relationships
💜 Mental wellness and emotional resilience
💜 Career and leadership while managing health challenges
💜 Healthcare experiences and patient advocacy
💜 Finding joy, purpose, and humor along the way
No two journeys are exactly alike.
That’s what makes every story worth sharing.
🌿 My Mission
My mission is to educate, advocate, and encourage.
I believe awareness creates understanding.
Understanding creates compassion.
And compassion creates stronger communities.
Through these pages, I hope to help bridge the gap between what people see and what many individuals living with chronic illness experience every day.
I also hope to create a space where patients, caregivers, family members, friends, and healthcare professionals can learn from one another.
Because when we share our stories, we create opportunities for connection, understanding, and hope.
💜 Looking Forward
The Dual Diagnosis Diaries is more than a website.
It is part of a larger vision.
A vision centered on advocacy, education, support, and empowering individuals living with chronic illnesses and invisible disabilities.
My hope is that this platform will continue to grow into a resource that not only shares stories, but also provides education, support, and advocacy for the broader chronic illness and polyautoimmune communities.
As this community grows, so does my commitment to helping others feel seen, heard, understood, and supported.
What began as a place to document my own journey is slowly evolving into something bigger—a mission to help create a stronger, more connected community for those navigating life with chronic illness.
In the years ahead, I hope to expand this work through wellness coaching, community outreach, advocacy initiatives, and eventually the creation of a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by chronic illnesses, invisible disabilities, and polyautoimmune diseases.
Because everyone deserves access to support, understanding, resources, and a community that reminds them they are not facing their journey alone.
The journey is still unfolding.
The lessons are still being learned.
And the story is still being written.
💜 Thank You for Being Here
Whether you arrived here searching for information, support, understanding, or simply out of curiosity, I am grateful you found your way here.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
Thank you for being part of this community.
And thank you for allowing me to share my journey with you.
I hope you’ll stay awhile.
There are many more stories still to come.
Together, we’ll continue learning, growing, advocating, and finding hope—one story at a time.
💜 The Dual Diagnosis Diaries
By Kia Lorice
Founder • Author • Advocate • Future Wellness Coach
“Because every diagnosis has a story, and every story deserves to be told.” 💜