At just 12 years old, Giusiana Prosser began experiencing medical symptoms that would change her life — symptoms that were dismissed, minimized, and misunderstood for years.

After being told it was “all in her head,” Giusiana never stopped advocating for herself. At 19, she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and at 21 with Andersen–Tawil Syndrome, finally giving a name to what her body had known all along. Today, she also lives with a tethered spinal cord.

Now a artist, rare disease advocate, motivational speaker, and Ms. Wheelchair Washington USA, Giusiana uses her platform to challenge misconceptions around disability and share a powerful truth: “Rare isn’t rare.”

In this episode, Gius ...