I lay in bed and read your book cover to cover. I couldn’t stop
reading, for I felt as though I were, for the first time, reading a real
story. A bit like Harry Potter changed the life of many young people
who had never wanted to read before, your story was a breath of fresh
air. I am so appreciative of your honesty – about your childhood, your
love affair with Shelly, your disease – and in awe of how long you hid
it all from the world, from a world where the way you look, walk and
talk is everything.
I admire your courage, and feel as though we have so much in common. While I’m very open about having RA, there isn’t a person on the planet who knows the extent of my pain, my discomfort, my limitations. I hide it from everyone in my life on a daily basis, put on my ‘sparkle’ and radiate positivity so that nobody knows how devastating it truly is. At the moment, however, I am in bed, as I’ve been continuously flaring for almost five months. I refuse to admit to anybody that I’m in trouble, because I still hold out hope that the next drug will be my miracle, and I will be able to return to the life I so carefully created for myself. Now I’ve read your book, I know this would make perfect sense to you!
I am going to lend your book to my close family and friends, starting with my mum. I hope that they read your story, and perhaps recognise some of the traits and symptoms you describe as my own. I hope that more high-profile people come forward and speak out about having RA, because it certainly does need a makeover – and the world needs to know that it’s not necessarily old, wrinkly people who get struck. It’s women like us – young, fit, healthy, fashionable (you more so than I!), fun, vibrant and driven – and it has the capacity to take away far more than the integrity of our joints and the high-heels section of our shoe wardrobe.
Thank you again for having the courage to speak out, and making girls like me feel far less alone. More power to you, Christine.
Much love,
Me.
I admire your courage, and feel as though we have so much in common. While I’m very open about having RA, there isn’t a person on the planet who knows the extent of my pain, my discomfort, my limitations. I hide it from everyone in my life on a daily basis, put on my ‘sparkle’ and radiate positivity so that nobody knows how devastating it truly is. At the moment, however, I am in bed, as I’ve been continuously flaring for almost five months. I refuse to admit to anybody that I’m in trouble, because I still hold out hope that the next drug will be my miracle, and I will be able to return to the life I so carefully created for myself. Now I’ve read your book, I know this would make perfect sense to you!
I am going to lend your book to my close family and friends, starting with my mum. I hope that they read your story, and perhaps recognise some of the traits and symptoms you describe as my own. I hope that more high-profile people come forward and speak out about having RA, because it certainly does need a makeover – and the world needs to know that it’s not necessarily old, wrinkly people who get struck. It’s women like us – young, fit, healthy, fashionable (you more so than I!), fun, vibrant and driven – and it has the capacity to take away far more than the integrity of our joints and the high-heels section of our shoe wardrobe.
Thank you again for having the courage to speak out, and making girls like me feel far less alone. More power to you, Christine.
Much love,
Me.
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