Lene Andersen learned early on that although she couldn’t control what happened to her over the course of her journey with chronic illness, she could control her reaction to it. “Back then, and now, I choose laughter,” she says.
By J.G Chayko
There’s more than one way to raise awareness of invisible illnesses like arthritis, says rheumatoid arthritis patient J.G. Chayko. And it starts with acknowledging the struggles and the triumphs.
Although recreating festive traditions in exactly the way we used to may feel like a way to reclaim our lives, it just perpetuates old and dysfunctional habits. Instead, follow these tips for easier and happier holidays, says advocate Lene Andersen.
In a moment of profound insight, Lene Andersen realized that her body was not an enemy to resent, but a friend worth getting to know and supporting.
“The term patient reduces me to one a small slice of a much greater whole,” says Lene Andersen, a person with rheumatoid arthritis. “We are all so much more than just one thing and who we are is always and forever greater than the sum of our parts.”
By J.G Chayko
"I miss the lights, the costumes, and the challenge of bringing the world of the playwright to life, but I’m not sure I’m ready to take the stage just yet," says Julia Chayko, a rheumatoid arthritis patient.
When rheumatoid arthritis patient and fashion designer Michael Kuluva approached Eileen Davidson to help design a T-shirt to promote arthritis awareness, she embraced her own ‘fierce fight’ to help inspire and support others.
From co-designing a shirt with a fellow rheumatoid arthritis patient to having people with chronic illness as models, designer Michael Kuluva continues to ensure his New York Fashion Week show is inclusive and raises awareness.
By J.G Chayko
“Let’s allow that sense of play to fuel our well-being and ignite our imagination,” says Julia Chayko, a rheumatoid arthritis patient.
September is Arthritis Awareness Month in Canada. Here’s what rheumatoid arthritis patient Eileen Davidson has learned about using her voice to
“These new guidelines show me that, even on the bad days, I am still doing something to improve my health, easing some of the burden and guilt I feel when I skip a workout because of my illness,” says Eileen Davison, a patient advocate with rheumatoid arthritis.
You may feel helpless as you wait to meet with a specialist about your rheumatic disease, but there are steps you can take during the waiting period to prepare for your first visit with the rheumatologist.
By J.G Chayko
“Shifts in the weather can happen at any time, pitching the ocean into a frenzy and churning the waves of inflammation in my body,” says Julia Chayko, a rheumatoid arthritis patient.
In Canada, the average wait time to access specialty care — like rheumatology —is 78 days. During this time, your rheumatoid arthritis may be progressing at its own speed and stopping you from living your life. Here’s what to do during the wait time to manage your pain.
By J.G Chayko
“I learned that managing my disease was not just about medications and therapies, but about balance.”
“There’s something about crisis situations that allows you to shed what’s not important and prioritize what you love.”
By Rachel Ellis
“There’s mutual relief that comes through sharing and hearing that someone else understands exactly what you are going through.”
"I realized I had to get some answers in order to make the best choice in regard to my COVID-19 protection."
By J.G Chayko
“Although yoga started as a way for me to slowly learn how to move in my new body, it quickly became more than a physical exercise.”
Getting involved in arthritis research taught patient advocate Eileen Davidson a lot more about how to live with rheumatoid arthritis than she would have learned on her own.
U.S.-born Michael Kuluva started to shine a spotlight on what it’s like to live with rheumatoid arthritis after he was diagnosed at age 28. Now he is continuing this important patient advocacy work as a resident of Ontario.
No, I can’t tell you when the weather is about to change by a feeling in my joints but I can sure tell you how the weather when frightful changes the way my joints feel.
‘People believe that they “understand chronic pain” because they have also felt pain but it's a completely different thing when it's day in and day out for years.’
The role your grip strength plays in your health goes far beyond your ability to open a pickle jar.
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