The Story Behind Zebras and Spoons

Hi, I’m Kimberly!

My journey into chronic illness advocacy wasn’t something I ever planned for — it was born out of my own lived experience. Years ago, a lumbar puncture left me with a spinal fluid leak. That single event became the turning point that helped me and my doctors uncover something deeper: I live with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS).

As time went on, more puzzle pieces clicked into place. I learned that I also have what’s often called the EDS trifecta:

• hEDS (Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) — a connective tissue disorder that weakens joints, skin, and organs, and often brings complications like hernias or fragile tissue.

• POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) — a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that causes dizziness, rapid heart rate, and fatigue when standing.

• MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) — a condition where the immune system reacts unpredictably, leading to allergy-like reactions, inflammation, and exhaustion.

  
  

Alongside this, I’ve also lived with trauma-related conditions — including Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). These are part of my reality too, shaping how I experience pain, healing, and relationships.

What I noticed over the years is that chronic illness and mental health are often treated like separate worlds. You can find communities for EDS or for PTSD, but very rarely do you find a space where the two intersect. Yet for so many of us, they are inseparable. The physical affects the mental, and the mental affects the physical. Ignoring one side leaves people feeling unseen.

That’s why I created Zebras and Spoons.

This site is meant to be more than just information — it’s a safe place for belonging. A hub where people navigating EDS, POTS, MCAS, or trauma-related conditions can come to find:

• Resources that educate and empower.

• Stories and blogs that validate the ups and downs.

• Podcasts and videos that bring voices together.

• Community support that reminds you: you are safe, supported, and not alone.

  
  

I imagine this space serving many people: those who are newly diagnosed and overwhelmed, those who have been silently struggling for years, caregivers and loved ones who just want to understand, and survivors who carry invisible battles.

What I want most is for anyone who lands here to feel seen, validated, and valued. I want people to know that what they’re experiencing is real — not “all in your head” — and that you deserve compassionate care, community, and love.

This is only the beginning. Zebras and Spoons will grow into a place where we can learn from one another, support one another, and remind each other that even in the hardest moments, we are never truly alone.

Welcome home.

— Kimberly Elayyne

A supportive community gathering for those with EDS and chronic illness.