Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

Prounounced (mai-uhs-THEE-nee-uh GRAA-vuhs) is a chronic autoimmune, neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles (the muscles that connect to your bones and contract to allow body movement in the arms and legs, and allow for breathing) In Australia it has a prevalence of 1.2 sufferers per 10,000 population. A 2009 consensus found that there where 2,574 people living with MG in Aus. It is dubbed a 'Snowflake' disease as all patients present differently and the success rates for treatments are just as varied. This art exhibition will use of the Snowflake motif as well as the repetition of 2000 to represent MG in Australia.

The Crochet Snowflake Project

To show support for those with MG community members have begun Crocheting White/ Teal Snowflakes. we are calling for anyone who can crochet or is willing to learn to participate in this project. All donated Snowflakes will be used in the OhMG art exhibition in a piece called 'OhMG I'm Melting' - Thousands of crochet snowflakes joined together to create a melting liquid wall drape.

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Details for those wishing to get involved:

Colour: White or teal (any shade, any yarn or yarn alternative type)

Yarn Ply: any that you wish to work with

Hook size: whatever is appropriate for your yarn

Size: around 10cm in diameter but all sizes and variations welcome

Pattern: head over the the blog page for some patterns that I have created or choose your own! Every person with MG is different as is every snowflake. I have also recorded some tutorials on YouTube that you can find here.

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Send to:

The Crochet Snowflake Project

     Po Box 628

 Rochedale South

     QLD   4123

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Cant Crochet? No problem! If you have another way to create a snowflake be it oragami, knitting, tatting, embroider... the list goes on, its all welcome.

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If you are a craft group or collection or enthusiasts looking to get involved, please reach out and, with the help of MGAQ, i can supply you with yarn.

National Mestinon Bottle Collection

I was diagnosed with MG in 2021, during covid. Throughout this time, MG patients experienced two long-lasting international drug shortages of Mestinon, leaving them under-medicated, sick, extremely distressed and at risk of Myasthenic Crisis, a life-threatening emergency where one loses the strength to chew, swallow, speak and breath. This exhibition highlights the precariousness of reliance on international sources for life saving medications.

Over the last 2 years I have been collecting empty Mestinon bottles. Mestinon is a brand name for, Pyridostigmine, importantly for many years it was the only version of Pyridostigmine available in Australia. When these shortages hit Australians where left waiting for alternatives to be brought into the country which took a very long time, and then even longer for those medications to be put on the PBS. I am not the only one who had desperate messages from other MG sufferers who had run out of medication and the best any pharmacy in a 50km area could do was fill the script in 4 days time.

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These bottles are going to be turned into 24 hanging snowflake sculptures. I picked 24 as that's how many Mestinon bottles I was going through in 1 year. Since the Mestinon shortage my condition has changed, meaning I now go through 36 bottles in a year.

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Where to send your Mestinon bottles:

Send to:

Chloe Wigg

 Po Box 628

 Rochedale South

 QLD   4123

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What to send: Mestinon 10mg, 60mg or 180 mg bottles, lids and boxes if you still have them. It is more cost effective to send in bulk so save up and send 10 at a go.

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Any Members of MGAQ please contact the commitee who have kindly offered to cover postage costs.

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Privacy info - All medication labels will be removed and used for other parts of the exhibition. The removal process clears any personal information on pharmacy labels. I am temporarily keeping a record of return addresses to send thank you cards at the end of the project. Please indicate if you would prefer not to have a thank you card sent and your information will not be kept. All information will be deleted once the thank you cards have been sent.

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The Faces of MG

The Exhibition will feature 24 portraits of people with MG as well as their stories.

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This part of the exhibition allows people with MG to have a voice. So much of MG affects the face, from ptosis (drooping eyelid) to swelling brought on by steroids and other vital treatments. In this digital age our face is how we are seen by the world. I can't remember the amount of times I have tried to unlock my phone when tired/ flaired and it says "no face detected" *sigh*

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some portraits will be layered on top of Mestinon labels, some will be depicting double vision that effects so many, some will be comparison photos pre and post diagnosis or before and during a flair.

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If you are have been Diagnosed with MG and are interested in sharing your story and image to be used in this exhibition please get in contact.