Projects | The Young Face of Arthritis

The truth is I thought I had come to terms with being diagnosed with an incurable, progressively disfiguring disease a long time ago. I considered my RA and I off the Ferris Wheel of denial, anger, bargaining and sadness. I had moved on to acceptance! . In a wheelchair, out of a wheelchair. With a cane, without a cane. Working a job, and “disabled.” I had learned to love myself and appreciate all the facets of ME with RA on the side. The good and the bad, my RA and me had a ying and yang. YAY! . Then I became a mother. . And a newfound hatred of this piece of crap disease began brewing inside me before I even had time to recognize it or nip it in the bud. Now, it’s bubbling to the surface in surprising tears I can’t hold back. . I was warned of the postpartum RA flare, told to prepare my support system, told to come up with a treatment plan with my doctor. And I did! . I did all of that, but the one thing I forgot to do was to prepare myself. . For the disconnection between my love and longing to hold my son and my stiff elbows and painful shoulders that won’t cooperate. . I forgot to forgive myself for not being a “perfect” mother and to ask my friends and family to remind me when I forget that there is no such thing… . I forgot to tell myself that people lie on Social Media. . That commercials that say “Moms don’t take sick days” are just Marketing to sell NyQuil, not truths. . And everyone has bad days, even moms without RA. . The truth is I’m still learning. I don’t have it all figured out. With every milestone I experience and every new obstacle I face, and every year that passes with this lifelong disease *eye roll..* I come closer to finding the reason I’ve been given this rather distasteful set of cards. . But like Rafiki from Lion King says… #rheumatoidarthritis #arthritis #jra #chronicpain #chronicilness #ra #rheum #juvenilearthritis #chroniclife #jia

The Young Face of Arthritis

Archives: Projects

Dr. Phil: How A Young Woman Managed Rheumatoid Arthritis During Pregnancy And As A New Mom

Turtle Speed: Living With RA At My Own Pace

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Juggling Act: Arthritis.com

Dating with a chronic illness: Yahoo

Dr. Phil on RA + Pregnancy

WEGO Health Red Carpet Interview

Stephanie’s Story: WSVN 7 News

Women and Arthritis: Huffington Post

21 Things Only People Living With A Health Problem Know: Buzzfeed

#RedefiningRA: Crescendo Bioscience

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