Each student will choose a disease and write a paper on the topic. The paper contributes toward the total grade for the written aspect of this class. You should include in your paper:

1. Reason for choosing the disease. This can be one that has affected you in some fashion or it could be a disease that you fear and want to know more about.

2. Overview of the disease:
• Symptoms, signs, etc.
• Demographics- people, places

3. Additional information about the disease
• Identify history of the disease. When discovered, by whom, where, etc.
• Current research on the disease. If there is no current research then reference past research that has changed how the disease is diagnosed, treated, etc.

i. Critical Thinking (1 page of your paper)
• Put yourself in the shoes of the person with the disease and/or the family members you will need to research this information to understand what an individual goes through and what the family might experience.
• “A day in the life” of the person with the disease-emotionally, physically, etc. How are family members impacted?
• c. Limitations, barriers, freedoms lost, stress associated etc. (for the person with the disease and family)
• d. What aspects of life do you realize that you/patient might have taken for granted before diagnosis?