Monica shares her extraordinary journey through years of unexplained pain, repeated misdiagnoses, and a 20-month diagnostic odyssey that ultimately led to confirming that her symptoms were real, and that she was suffering from Craniocervical Instability (CCI), Chiari malformation, tethered cord syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). What begins as a story of a healthcare system that repeatedly failed to recognise a rare condition becomes a powerful conversation about resilience, advocacy and finding purpose through adversity.

Monica speaks openly about losing her health, career and identity, while also explaining how she reclaimed control by becoming an advocate for rare disease patients. She discusses the realities of navigating insurance denials, undergoing an eight-hour neurosurgical procedure, living with permanent disability, and why she is passionate about improving awareness of the relationship between connective tissue disorders and menopause.

Throughout the conversation, Monica demonstrates remarkable optimism, showing how writing, visualization techniques and advocacy have transformed one of the darkest periods of her life into a mission to help others feel seen, believed and less alone.

The song that Monica chose is Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson.

Janee lives with Ebstein's Anomaly, a rare congenital heart defect that has shaped every stage of her life. Diagnosed at birth and undergoing open-heart surgery at just seven years old, Janee shares the physical realities of living with arrhythmias, repeated hospital admissions, and the possibility of needing a heart transplant in the future. Yet throughout our conversation, what stands out most is not the medical complexity, but her remarkable resilience and positivity.

Janee reflects openly on growing up feeling different, hiding her surgical scar, and believing she had to keep her condition to herself. She explains how finding the congenital heart disease (CHD) community transformed her self-confidence, helping her realise she was not alone. That journey eventually inspired her to create The Heart Connection, a non-profit supporting adults living with congenital heart disease through practical care packages and a growing community of understanding.

This episode explores identity, belonging, fear, hope, and the extraordinary impact of finding people who truly understand your experience. Janee's warmth, honesty and determination shine throughout, making this an inspiring conversation about turning personal challenges into support for others.

The song that Janee chose is I Lived by OneRepublic.

This episode of On One Condition follows Jenny Trefzger’s journey through persistent abdominal and groin pain after surviving stage IV colon cancer.

After years of scans, colonoscopies, PET imaging, blood tests, spine evaluations, pain procedures, and repeated reassurances that cancer had not returned, Jenny eventually encountered the possibility of Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome (ACNES), a frequently overlooked cause of chronic abdominal wall pain.

The conversation explores the emotional burden of living with a cancer history, the challenge of distinguishing new symptoms from recurrence anxiety, and the importance of hands-on examination, self-advocacy, and specialist expertise.

Despite a long and frustrating diagnostic journey, Jenny is optimistic that she has found the right team who will be able to treat her chronic pain.

The song that Jenny chose is At The Limit by Yuki Hayashi.