Why the Zebra is Significant to EDS

For those who aren’t quite familiar with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, you might wonder why we use the zebra to represent us..

If you see a zebra-print ribbon or hear an EDS patient keep referring to their love for all things zebra, there is a very good reason for that. That is our beloved mascot! In 1940, Dr. Theodore Woodward said to his interns “When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras.”, in other words, “Don’t go looking for the most far-fetched diagnosis out there.”. That term is still used by doctors to this day. In the medical field they have been trained to look for the most basic and “logical” diagnosis. Since Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a fairly new discovery (when I say new, I mean it is just now being mentioned to this upcoming generation of doctors in medical school) they consider it to be rare. Most EDS patients believe that rare and under-diagnosed are two completely different things. It is widely believed that Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is not in fact rare, but underdiagnosed due to the wide variety of symptoms. Doctors look at hypermobility as an independent diagnosis and don’t consider the other signs and symptoms to come up with a deeper diagnosis. Other symptoms being chronic pain, brain fog, gastrointestinal issues, velvety smooth and stretchy skin, eye problems, easy bruising, anxiety, etc.

With that being said, we have taken to the zebra as our “mascot” because of the famous quote from Dr. Theodore Woodward. In my opinion, nothing could represent us better.

Author: Meredith

My name is Meredith and I write about my chronic illness, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. I was diagnosed at age 16 but have always known something was off about my body. I have a strong will to live and I believe that it makes all the difference in how I handle life itself when it comes to the illness. People don’t always see the monster I’m fighting daily because I’m constantly going, so I’d like to try and share my own point of view on the matter. View all posts by Meredith