Communication and Inspiration Archives | Page 4 of 20 | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

Vicks Vaporub Cure for a Disease That’s In Your Head Anyway

January 23, 2014October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 49 Comments Invisible Illness, Rheumatoid Arthritis awareness, Rheumatoid Arthritis natural cure

I got something free with my Chinese food the other night when I went to pick up my egg rolls: advice. It was the end of a long, hard, day. I’d pushed myself hard to be moving at all with harsh stiffness and sharp pain in over a dozen joints. We’d been out that day because...Continue reading 49 Comments » Read more

What Would Rheumatoid Awareness Mean to You?

January 15, 2014October 5, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 63 Comments Blog carnival, Rheumatoid Arthritis awareness

What difference do you think it would make if it Rheumatoid Disease were recognized for what it is by everyone – the general public, media and marketers, pharmaceutical companies, U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American College of Rheumatology, all healthcare professionals, your neighbors and your family…? Rheumatoid Awareness...Continue reading 63 Comments » Read more

Together, We’re Neither Alone Nor Powerless

December 3, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 5 Comments Rheumatoid Patient Foundation

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What? You too? I thought I was the only one." ~CS Lewis Most of the time, it seems we’re pretty powerless to change things. As long as we’re alone, it might stay that way. But when we find others like us, the whole...Continue reading 5 Comments » Read more

Five Keys to a Thankful Heart

November 27, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly O'Neill 16 Comments America, Encouragement for living with RA, Faith

Stirring a thankful heart There are always obstacles to thankfulness, and living with a painful chronic disease is certainly an obvious one. This week confronted once again things I’m no longer able to do for a holiday, I reflected on the what stirs a thankful heart and things much more important than color-coordinated napkins and a lovely...Continue reading 16 Comments » Read more

What a Wonderful World, and Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen

November 18, 2013April 17, 2020 Kelly O'Neill 5 Comments Invisible Illness, Rheumatoid arthritis support

Do these two song titles seem to conflict? The former was one of the first songs I ever put (and kept) on my phone. The latter I learned in second grade because my teacher thought every American must know Spirituals. (Hear Louis Armstrong sing below, and Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen on YouTube.) Guys, cover your ears....Continue reading 5 Comments » Read more

We Must Celebrate! Your Voice Was Heard, Despite My Limitations

November 4, 2013April 20, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 26 Comments American College of Rheumatology, Communicating about RA, Patient advocacy, Rheumatoid Patient Foundation

Months – actually years – of my life went into the last couple of weeks. It’s a peculiar feeling when it all comes together in a moment. While there are important points to dig into from the annual ACR meeting, we should pause for a moment to reflect on where we are. (A recent Spear...Continue reading 26 Comments » Read more

Sleepless in San Diego

October 25, 2013April 20, 2019 Kelly O'Neill 12 Comments American College of Rheumatology, Living with chronic illness like RA, Patient advocacy

Each fall, Katie Beth and I travel to wherever the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) holds its annual scientific meeting. Last night, we arrived in San Diego. 1) This is huge. The Rheumatoid Patient Foundation (RPF) is presenting an exhibit in the Exhibit Hall. 2) I’m speaking with two other RPF volunteers in a session on Tuesday...Continue reading 12 Comments » Read more