Special Occasion Archives | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

Rheumatoid Awareness Day 2016

February 2, 2016May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 9 Comments Rheumatoid Arthritis awareness, Rheumatoid Patient Foundation

February 2, 2016 is the fourth annual Rheumatoid Awareness Day. Happy Rheumatoid Awareness Day 2016 The theme for Rheumatoid Awareness Day 2016 is the real rheumatoid disease, abbreviated with the hashtag #TheRealRD. Seven facts illuminate the stark differences between the media version of rheumatoid arthritis and the rheumatoid disease that’s experienced by so many. Sharing these 7...Continue reading 9 Comments » Read more

HAPPY RHEUMATOID AWARENESS DAY 2014

February 3, 2014May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 3 Comments Rheumatoid Arthritis awareness

Rheumatoid Awareness Day (RAD) was yesterday February 2, but since the day fell on Sunday this year, the events continue this week. Today at 11 a.m. EST, I’ll co-host a Twitter chat in honor of Rheumatoid Awareness Day with EveryDay Health. Click here to read more or see how to participate. The hashtag is #HealthTalk. AND...Continue reading 3 Comments » Read more

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

November 4, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 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, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 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

Gatecrashing: The Story of Rheumatoid Patients at the ACR Meeting

October 14, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 24 Comments American College of Rheumatology, e-patient, Patient advocacy

It’s bedtime here. How about a bedtime story? Once upon a time in Philadelphia- ACR 2009 After being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2006, I read some articles from reliable hospitals like Johns Hopkins. Sometimes I looked up symptoms online or read patient comments on large websites like Health Central or WebMD. Eventually I entered discussions with...Continue reading 24 Comments » Read more

Happy Birthday RAW! The Day I Could No Longer Stay Silent

May 17, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 35 Comments Comprehensive RA Care, Cricoarytenoid arthritis, e-patient

This week the British Medical Journal published my article which they titled: Doctors’ understanding of rheumatoid disease does not align with patients’ experiences. But first, today is a very special day. Today begins year five of RAW Four years ago today, RA Warrior was born. I’d been studying, writing, and talking to patients for a few months....Continue reading 35 Comments » Read more

RPF White Paper Indicates Patient Experiences Differ from Typical Perceptions of Rheumatoid Arthritis

April 30, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 18 Comments Patient reported outcome measure, Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid Patient Foundation

Patient Experience and Rheumatoid Disease This site has always been dedicated to “presenting the patient story in a way that may increase understanding of the disease by doctors and researchers” as one of its three goals. The Onset Story project has been an important part of that, both for patients and for healthcare professionals searching to...Continue reading 18 Comments » Read more

An Event Especially for Gathering Encouragement

April 4, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 15 Comments Encouragement for living with RA, Rheumatoid arthritis support, Video or podcast

You’re not alone If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, “You’re not alone” with this disease. So many of us share experiences. And yet, we hear frequently about the loneliness that Rheumatoid disease creates. Community is a tremendous remedy and it’s what brings many warriors here time after time. Hearing “you’re not...Continue reading 15 Comments » Read more

Thoughts about Schedules & How Evil Tongs & Barstools Are

February 22, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 40 Comments Living with chronic illness like RA

Sometimes there’s a weird reason it seems impossible to write – I have too much to write about and I don’t know where to start. There are lists of topics I want to write about and dozens of articles begun that I haven’t finished. Today I want to write about how evil tongs and barstools...Continue reading 40 Comments » Read more

The Best Rheumatoid Arthritis News Story I’ve Ever Seen

February 5, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 30 Comments Rheum Disease in the Media, Rheumatoid Arthritis awareness

Click now to hear the news story as it aired February 4, 2013 on KPCC, the local NPR affiliate in South Central Los Angeles. Honest rheumatoid arthritis news story on NPR station Jose Martinez KPCC interview Jose Martinez, writer for OnCentral: Reporting on health and quality of life in South LA, first contacted me a couple of...Continue reading 30 Comments » Read more

Seeing Light and Shadows in Groundhog Day and RA

February 2, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 2 Comments Guest post on RA Warrior, Inspiration for living with RA

TODAY, February 2nd,is the first Rheumatoid Awareness Day. Read more below about how you can be involved. Amateur actress shares Groundhog Day's special place in her heart My sweet friend Steph, one of the bright treasures that I have gained from living with this disease, sent me a story in an email yesterday. I'll hope you'll enjoy it...Continue reading 2 Comments » Read more

This is our 10K

January 30, 2013May 14, 2018 Kelly Young 4 Comments Rheumatoid Patient Foundation

Have you read the posts on the Facebook event for Rheumatoid Awareness Day February 2nd? The stories, like thousands of comments on this site, describe the range of experiences and emotions people face with this disease. I’ve said your comments are like another whole blog– and that’s true. Together, we tell the full story of...Continue reading 4 Comments » Read more

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