Welcome!
My name is Leeann
Family Nurse Practitioner, advocate, and founder of Rare Not Invisible.
Why I started Rare Not Invisible
I recently finished graduate school to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. I also know what it's like to be on the other side of the exam room, navigating chronic and rare illness as a patient.
Being both has shown me how often people with rare and chronic conditions are dismissed, misunderstood, or left to figure things out on their own. Every voice matters, and ALL diseases deserve support. It shouldn't matter whether a diagnosis is labeled 'rare' or 'common.'
I started Rare Not Invisible so that no one has to walk this road alone.
What I hope you find here
- To feel heard. Every patient deserves to be heard, believed, and seen, regardless of how complex or rare their medical chart might be.
- To know you're not alone. A community of people who understand.
- Information you can understand. Trusted resources and medical terms explained in plain language.
- The confidence to speak up. Tools to help you advocate for yourself.
- Awareness. For conditions that are too often overlooked or misunderstood.
The book
Our Voice is Rare, Not Invisible
My co-author and I are writing a book of real stories from people living with chronic and rare diseases. It's where I'll share my own story in full. If you'd like your story to be part of it, I would love to hear from you.
Share Your StoryWith Gratitude and Hope,
Leeann