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Tracy Jallow Bem: Living with Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Raising Awareness Through Creativity

Tracy Jallow Bem/LinkedIn

Oct 21, 2025, 09:37

Tracy Jallow Bem: Living with Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Raising Awareness Through Creativity

Tracy Jallow Bem, Expert patient at King’s College London, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Hello to any new followers/connections – I’m Tracy Jallow BEM, an expert patient, educator, and creative health advocate.
And if you’re not new here — thank you for staying with me, for continuing to follow my journey, and for being part of this evolving space of awareness, creativity, and connection.

I live with Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS), a rare autoimmune condition that causes the blood to clot when it shouldn’t. APS has shaped much of my life – from blocked arteries and major surgeries to moments in intensive care that changed my perspective forever. It’s a condition that teaches you daily about resilience, vulnerability, and the art of adaptation.

It took 17 years to receive a diagnosis, during which time my own blood was attacking my body and causing internal damage. Timely diagnoses are crucial for better health outcomes, which is why I am committed to raising awareness.’

Whilst I’ve been quiet in the background recently, I’ve been busy working and contributing to a range of important projects – from developing best practice and guidance in corridor care, to reviewing and providing feedback on patient-facing materials in rheumatology. I’ve also been preparing for upcoming teaching sessions, including Living Life with a Hidden Disability and a preparatory session for Year 2 medical students about to embark on their first ICU placement – helping them see the person beyond the patient.

My advocacy and art often meet in the middle – both driven by the need to make the invisible visible. Through my paintings, zines, and creative projects, I explore what it means to live in a body that tells complex stories – of pain, survival, and hope.

Being honoured with a British Empire Medal for my work in raising awareness of APS reminded me how powerful lived experience can be — not just as testimony, but as a tool for change.

So whether you’re new here or have been walking this path with me for a while, thank you.
Here, I share honesty, creativity, and purpose – because life with APS isn’t just about illness; it’s about transformation.

Even in the quiet, I’m still creating, still learning, and still finding ways to turn pain into purpose.

Original art work by Tracy Jallow Bem.”