Laura Donald

PhD researcher - written/creative representations of chronic heart disease. Heart failure since 2011, transplant 2021. She/her. Views own. See @hearty_tales

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

@SunshineScot @intocreative @Beatson_Charity Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssss! I really can’t wait to read it, Gillian. Congratulations xxx

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

At the weekend I make giant anatomical hearts from Lego tiles, apparently. Going to ink this up and make prints once I have paper big enough for the job. Never not crafting but I mostly share that on my Instagram account.

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

@Charlotte_0 Thanks Charlotte 😊

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

Dipped my tiniest toe back into the world of academia this week by attending the Politics of Disclosure symposium, organised by @mariettarosetta and @riacheyne. I couldn’t think of a better reintroduction - a wonderfully supportive, engaged, and interesting group and project.

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

@riacheyne I’ll take that excuse and run with it, thanks! 😂

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

@PharmacistHF Thank you so much, Paul 😊

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

(And apparently I’ve forgotten how to create a thread on Twitter too. 🤷🏻‍♀️)

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

My memory has been strangely affected by my transplant, as though memories of my life before lie dormant until I poke them - disclosure of another sort? I found it so overwhelming suddenly to remember this short film I once made. I plan to tread carefully. https://t.co/tjCqpbBdWU

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

So I’m going to (very slowly and gently and inconsistently) start putting myself back out there in relation to my research. I don’t know what form that will take or how everything will fit together but reinstalling Twitter seemed like an easy first step.

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

Crying mid-presentation (I’m owning it now but needed that hug then!) made me think I should keep my head down longer/indefinitely but I’ve realised the emotion, the difficulty of expression, the live unfolding of complex chronic illness is at the core of what I want to achieve.

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

@kirstylogan Little Ghost Wicky is fun. The Tunnel by Anthony Browne is complex and frightening but my daughter loved it from a very young age. We also loved The Haunted House by Kazuno Kohara. Most of their books have a touch of spookiness and the illustrations are gorgeous and bold. 👻

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

@CleoHanaway I can probably recommend a few more but they will be biased towards stories of chronic heart conditions so maybe not exactly what you’re looking for? Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll consult my bookshelf!

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

@CleoHanaway Words In Pain by Olga Jacoby is excellent - memoir/letters. Ann Kelley wrote a trilogy (fiction, probably classed as YA) featuring a teenager with congenital heart condition - first is The Burying Beetle. A good reflection of chronic illness, avoiding some typical fiction tropes.

[monorail music @Monorail_Music]

Ok we're ready to go! Grahams been in and signed our copies of The Inner Circle for tonights book launch. Expect to be transported back to 90's Glasgow for one night only. Doors 8pm, Free event.

All Aboard!

https://t.co/tQHBo6cxN4

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

You can find me on Instagram as laura_dropstitch, where I post far too often and too honestly. #FutureProofing

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

@kristinwh0 @Gayle_L_Davis @mpcsmith @smeebut Amazing news! Congratulations, Dr Hay!! 🤗

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

@SunshineScot @lizzyorton @CHASEMedHums It was great - lots to think about! 😊

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

I went to an online workshop about using medical images and made this, featuring some visible hearts through the ages. My printer wasn’t working so I had to photocopy my phone screen 🤦🏻‍♀️ but I went with it. Thanks @lizzyorton and @CHASEMedHums for an interesting session.

[CHASE Medical Humanities Network @CHASEMedHums]

Tickets are now available for our next workshop, 'Bodies/Images/Incursions: a Reading and Workshop on Medical Images' with artist @lizzyorton. Thurs 20 Oct, 5pm: https://t.co/nABguZAP49

[Laura Donald @_Laura_Donald]

@brihughespoet I wrote my very first sonnet today! It’s about herpes and heart transplantation 😅 I don’t know why other people write sonnets in 2022, but I did it as a prompt/challenge because writing wasn’t coming easy to me today and I’m 37 successful days into #100DaysOfWriting.