What happens when illness hijacks your love story? In this raw and revealing episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with therapists and real-life couple Melissa Dickinson and Tom Query, who know firsthand how Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can test—and transform—a relationship.
From secret diagnoses to unexpected intimacy challenges, they open up about their personal journey navigating chronic illness, caregiving, trauma, and neurodivergence while maintaining connection, humor, and purpose.
But it doesn’t stop there. You’ll hear about the surgery that changed everything, a community built from the ground up, and what it means to reclaim agency in a body that feels like it’s working against you. Whether you're chronically ill, caregiving, or just curious—this episode will stay with you.
Takeaways:
What if the love of your life was diagnosed after your wedding… would you stay?
This surgery gave her legs—and her life—back.
They gave their illness a name… and it changed how they fought it.
The hardest part of caregiving isn’t what you think.
Sometimes, even therapists need help decoding each other.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
02:53 Melissa's Health Journey and Relationship Dynamics
06:30 Caregiving Challenges and Support Systems
24:06 Intimacy and Communication in Relationships
36:48 Humor and Misunderstandings
37:43 Challenges and Rewards of Caregiving
40:33 Balancing Needs and Self-Care
48:01 Neurodivergence and Relationship Dynamics
Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/.
Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.
Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.
YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!
Learn about Melissa Dickinson & Tom Query:
Melissa:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissadickinsonEDSofGA/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadickinsonlpc/
Website: www.MelissaDickinson.com
Tom:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellspringcounselingintown
Website: https://www.tomquery.com
Keep up to date with the HypermobilityMD:
YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast
Twitter: twitter.com/BluesteinLinda
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd
Facebook: facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast
Blog: hypermobilitymd.com/blog
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