Sami Prokasky
Sertraline Tears
EDS is painful and exhausting. It has caused tears on many occasions, and will continue to do so. In order to represent this, I wanted the eyes representing invisibility to be crying. However, these tears also have a second meaning.
Although they represent the pain EDS can cause, they also represent some of the most common comorbidities found with the disorder: Anxiety and depression. Sertraline is a light blue pill with a single line to cut it in half. It is an antidepressant used to treat both anxiety and depression, and happens to be relatively tear-shaped. To me, the connection was crystal clear and perfect for this project.
13 Subtypes
There are 13 subtypes of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, each with its own unique set of symptoms and setbacks. In order to represent each subtype, I took one of its unique symptoms and embroidered it onto the respective person. Periodontal EDS, for example, is represented with yellow teeth: since Periodontitis is the major symptom. Brittle Cornea symptom turns the sclerae blue, hence the blue eyes. And Spondylodysplastic EDS features bowed legs, which is why they have a uniquely cut person. All of these symtoms can be found on the Ehlers Danlos Society Website
Pictured left to right:
Top: Vascular EDS (vEDS), Cardiac-valvular EDS (cvEDS), and Arthrochalasia EDS (aEDS)
Middle: Classical EDS (cEDS), Periodontal EDS (pEDS), Dermatosparaxis EDS (dEDS), and Musculocontractural EDS (mcEDS)
Bottom: Brittle Cornea Syndrome (BCS), Kyphoscoliotic EDS (kEDS), Hypermobile EDS (hEDS), Spondylodysplastic EDS (spEDS), Myopathic EDS (mEDS), and Classical-like EDS (clEDS).
20 Tallies
The 20 tallies on my block are representative of 2 things: The first, is the progression of EDS over time as shown through color. In many cases, including my own, the symptoms become worse with time. My pain used to be exclusive to my legs, but now I experience it everywhere.
The second purpose of the tallies is to represent the amount of time it takes to be diagnosed with EDS. On average, it takes between 10-20 years to be diagnosed. I can attest to this as well: I began exhibiting symptoms when I was 5, and wasn't diagnosed until I was 18-- a 13 year long process. It takes so long to be diagnosed due to both its rarity, and lack of knowledge on the disorder. Many doctors wouldn't even consider it, as pain can start in childhood and be attributed to 'growing pains'.
Sami Prokasky EDS Narrative Art 200-1B.wav