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malswarrior

@malswarrior

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A whole lot of congenital tissue issues… 💧
💙MALS, EDS, POTS, SVAS, MCAS, Addisons 🦋
& 🥄 spoonie things, etc.

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Meet Katina Gerstein! @malswarrior

She’s a MALS warrior & we’re extremely grateful for her willingness to share her story!

Median arcuate ligament syndrome occurs when the arc-shaped band of tissue in the chest area presses on the celiac artery and nerve in the upper abdomen. MALS can cause debilitating abdominal pain in some people.

Surgery is the only treatment option for this condition. The most common procedure is called median arcuate ligament release, or median arcuate ligament decompression combined with transaction of the celiac ganglion and nerve plexus.✨ by @malswarrior

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3 years ago

😂🎗️🌻👸🏼🌙 enjoy!! 🎤🎧🎶

#cover
#amilliondreams
#talent
#beautiful
#voice
#viral
#talent
#chronicillness
#recovery
#therapy
#sing
#studio
#recording
#artist
#healing
#autismacceptance
#share
#listen
#thegreatestshowman
#pink
#longhair taken in Los Angeles, California by @malswarrior

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4 years ago

Hi my name is Katina Gerstein. This Article was Written April 29th, 2018 by @cedarssinai “The Bridge” February 17th is MALS Awareness Day and February 29th is Rare Disease Day... 💙

#MALSwarrior
#MALSawareness
#MALSawarenessday
#MedianArcuateLigamentSyndrome
#MALSwarrior
#MALS
#ChronicIllness
#RareDisease
#Feb17
#CedarsSinai
#CeliacPlexusBlock
#CeliacStent
#RareDiseaseDay
#Feb29
#ColonCancer
#ColonCancerSurvivor
#CancerSurvivor
#abceyewitness
#abc7
#abc7news
#abc7la taken in Cedars-Sinai by @malswarrior

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7 years ago

BIG things are happening you just wait and see!! 🎆 Can you guess what city I am in?! 🥁 Lots of travel ahead 2026 here I come!!

#lbcc
#losangeles
#dancer
#travel
#workhard
#collegegirl
#businesswoman
#institute
#leadership
#mystory
#chronicillness
#peersupport by @malswarrior

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a year ago

October has been amazing to me. I am so proud of myself having the chance to go out and live my life again. I share all the good things recently but don’t forget just because I haven’t posted about my medical challenges doesn’t hide the fact that I am still actively spending half my week at the hospital getting treatments just to keep myself going. I am burned out and will be home recovering this week. I’m scheduled for a procedure next Monday Nov 3rd 💜

The link to all my showdates are in my bio @katinagerstein

#warrior #chronicillness #dancer #performer #hospital #treatment #raredisease #parade by @malswarrior

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a year ago

I wanted to take a moment of appreciation for 🩰@chancetodancela program director Laura 💕 @lchachi & her assistant 😊 @brycebroedelll providing inclusion to adult dancers not in the professional industry access to free Anna teaching beginner ballet @anna_jacobs12
As a chronically ill & disabled dance student with multiple conditions studying dance in LA has been a dream come true. ☄️I share my journey dancing every step of the way @malswarrior 🦓 Dance is the reason I get up every day. It’s the reason I battle my condition. I fight through the pain & sickness just to get up to dance. 💃🏻 I have the will when it’s driven by such deep seeded passion. ☀️I didn’t just move across the country for major surgery with @drdannyshouhed 🏥There was a bigger purpose here for me!! ❤️‍🩹The dance prep I gain at @losangelesballet has provided me an experience of a lifetime. I am so grateful for the extra instruction and enjoyment. 🎆I notice improvement from each class. 👍🏻 I work hard to earn my place. I am studying in the dance program @lbccdancers with the hope of one day performing ballet locally on stage or becoming a ballet instructor/choreographer. I know I can do it!! ✅ My lovely ballet professor @kiaramoves imprints unforgettable confidence in her students at the beginning stages of their studies that I guarantee it doesn’t matter who you are if you walk out of her class you will want to come back even if you never took a dance class in your life. She has that @lbcitycollege spirit “You Belong Here”! None of this would be possible without each & every one of you who has a designated spot in my life to keep me alive & thriving. Now you know the reason I keep going. It’s a team effort. I also wanted to take another gratitude shoutout to 💕 @officialdadance another studio that has provided free dance classes in other styles. I recently started taking jazz & hiphop with 🎩 @iambrandononeal🤵🏾‍♂️ @klassikkanec & much support 🔥 @johnnyboidv8s preparing for my spring courses next year. It’s been an amazing experience that 2025 has turned around for me in ways I didn’t know were possible.💪🏻but look at me now!! You are witnessing the biggest come back of my life. 🪩✨ taken in Los Angeles Ballet by @malswarrior

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a year ago

Being a disabled college student in the dance degree program was not possible before my unknown HUGE recovery turnaround that I otherwise would not of come back from. Living the life I have now would not be possible without Ms Carol. This is my first time having a PCA on campus with me and my life feels changed forever!! Living with a central line and a feeding tube has its challenges. I am a Dancing Miracle. People who take on professional care roles like Ms. Carol don’t just assist in ADL’s she is growing on me as a life companion, a kindred spirit and a guardian angel. I never imagined meeting all these milestones I wasn’t set up for. I am so beyond blessed and grateful for Ms. Carol and I hope she stays around for a very very long time. We are practically becoming family at this point!! I always have warm eyes and a sweet smile to look back at knowing she is always gonna be right here looking out for me!! I have never felt so safe and secure in my life!! The world needs more people like Ms. Carol!! ❤️‍🩹 #college #lbcc #dance #school #longbeach #dancer #disableddancer #chronicillness taken in LBCC Dance Program by @malswarrior

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a year ago

Not how I envisioned spending my time at the iheartradio music festival in Las Vegas today 🥹

#recovery #feedingtube #hospital #surgery #malswarrior #chronicillness #spoonie #ehlersdanlossyndrome #connectivetissue #rarediseaseawareness #medical #smile by @malswarrior

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a year ago

🍓 strawberry shortcake

#hospital #surgery #chronicillness #mals #raredisease #recovery #warrior by @malswarrior

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a year ago

Made it through the first quarter of the semester 12 weeks to go… I am SO HAPPY!!! Dance is my life and I smart believe this is my life. God is GOOD!! My heart is whole. 🎆🩰

#dance
#college
#ballet
#lbcc
#longbeachcitycollege
#performingarts
#danceteam taken in LBCC Dance Program by @malswarrior

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2

a year ago

I have so many things too post… this was from after performing in the Labor Day Parade, I was in a lot of pain 🙈🦋🎆 I’ll post that video on my other page @katinagerstein

#laborday
#ehlersdanlossyndrome
#eds
#pots
#recovery
#chronicillness
#smile
#raredisease
#mals
#warrior by @malswarrior

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0

a year ago

Hot PINK Girl Vibes 🎆💖🌸

#hospital #surgery #chronicillness #mals #raredisease #recovery #warrior by @malswarrior

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a year ago