About
Hi, I'm Kimberly Elayyne!
The founder of Zebras and Spoons, a space created for people navigating both chronic illness and trauma-related conditions. My own path has been shaped by Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), POTS, MCAS, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), but what defines me most is the belief that none of us should walk this road alone. Here, you’ll find resources, stories, and community — a place where you are supported, validated, and seen. If you'd like to learn more about my journey, you can read my full story below.
My Story
For much of my life, I carried questions about why my body and mind seemed to move through the world differently. I knew something was off, but the answers never came easily. Doctors gave me labels that didn’t quite fit, treatments that didn’t fully help, and explanations that left me feeling unseen. It was a long and confusing road.
At 39, things began to shift. I finally received a correct diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), a name that put words to the memory gaps, shifts in identity, and survival strategies that had always been a part of me. Alongside this, I was also diagnosed with Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), a trauma-related condition that reflects the depth of my history and the way my nervous system still responds to danger. Around the same time, another piece of the puzzle fell into place: I learned I was also living with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS)—a connective tissue disorder that explained so many of the medical complications I had endured for years.
From there, the picture started coming together. I realized the spinal fluid leaks I’d suffered after lumbar punctures, the blood patches that followed, the jugular vein stenosis from a car accident, and even a spinal fluid leak after a chiropractic adjustment—all of it was tied back to EDS. So were the multiple hernias and the fragile tissues that never seemed to heal the way they should. For the first time, I began to understand the “why” behind my body’s struggles.
I also learned that I live with what’s often called the EDS “trifecta”: hEDS, POTS, and MCAS. Together with DID, PTSD, and C-PTSD, these diagnoses painted a picture of both my challenges and my resilience. They showed me that the body and mind aren’t separate—they’re deeply connected.
That’s why I created Zebras and Spoons. After years of feeling isolated and piecing things together on my own, I wanted to build a safe, compassionate space where others could find resources, stories, and community. A place that says: your pain is real, your story matters, and you don’t have to walk this road alone.