An Empowering Arthritis Story – Lori Knapp, Arthritis Foundation Ambassador, Western PA Chapter

 

Hi, my name is Lori Knapp, age 39, and I am writing today to share some personal information and stories about me, my family and RA.  I was diagnosed with RA in February, 2007 and since then our lives have been in a whirlwind.  From the first time when I received the news until now, there have been many sad, happy, important, and insignificant issues that brought me to this point in time.  I have, for the most part, been embarrassed and angry to admit that this disease actually resides in my body; other than for the constant aches and pains of which my body reminds me.  I have always been a strong person, but RA has the ability to take everything out of you.  One minute you are fine and the next two hours you are in bed wondering, what the heck happened to me?

 

For those of you reading this, I am not here to complain or tell you about the specific aches, pains and complications of my RA or answer the daily questions like:  Is it time for more medicine again, I already took 20 today?  What am I going to do if this medicine does not work?   What are the side effects of these serious drugs that are being administered to me?  If you have RA, you know what I am going through.  But what I am here to tell you is that you are not alone.  There is much more to life than laying around, feeling sorry for yourself and letting the world pass you by; even though today’s world isn’t that great! 

 

It may have taken two long years, but I think that I am finally ready to talk about it and make a difference.  My family has always been there for me: emotional, physically and mentally.  If it was not for my loving husband, son and daughter and my wonderful mom and dad and in-laws, I would not even have made it this far.  I have done a lot of online research over the past two years; looking to see what RA is all about and why I am the one who is struck with it.  During those times, I felt sorry for myself, I felt my life was over…no more running around and playing with the kids, no more taking walks, and no more FUN!  What am I going to do now…now that I am going to be crippled for the rest of my life?  RA is a scary disease; it is unpredictable and can be devastating and that is what I was focused on.  I did not let myself see that I can still do things and make a difference. 

 

It was not until I received an email one day back in November, 2008 from the Arthritis Foundation about their Annual Advocacy and Kids Summit in Washington, D.C.  For some reason, I responded to that email and made arrangements to attend.  During those cold months of winter, I was still barricaded in my house and swearing off any outside activities, even though my kids wanted me to play in the snow.  But slowly, the more involved I became in sending emails to my representatives in Congress and the more responses that I received, the more that I felt empowered.  What a minute, can this actually be the old me coming out?  I could not believe it, slowly but surely, I began to not focus on the negative, but focus on the fact that even in my condition, I can maybe, just maybe, make a difference.

 

My family and I attended that Summit on March 3 and 4 in Washington, D.C. and what a big deal that was for me!  I was able to get out and meet people suffering like me, talk about our common problems and even learn a lot more about arthritis in general.  I could not believe that 1 in 5 Americans and 1 in 3 Pennsylvanians have some form of arthritis.  Even kids can get arthritis.  This is a horrible disease that knows no boundaries; it does not matter your age, race or religion.  It will strike whenever it pleases.  But just knowing and seeing that I was not alone was a turning point for me.

 

We talked about arthritis issues, are starting a RA Alliance group and met with our national leaders.  I met with the Offices of Senator Specter, Senator Casey, Congressman Murphy and Congressman Platts, all from Pennsylvania.  They were very responsive and open to all of the information that we had to say.  They want to help, but they need people like us to let them know what we need.  It is important to stand up for yourself because if you do not speak up, you will be still sitting on that same old couch, feeling sorry for yourself.

 

I am now an Ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation and I would not have it any other way.  Don’t get me wrong, I still have those same aches, pains, and complications, but I also have a new perspective.  I know that I can make a difference and I know that you can too!  Just take that one step on contacting the Arthritis Foundation like I did and you too can help advocate the issues of arthritis and start healing from the inside out. 

 

To contact the Arthritis Foundation Western PA Chapter please call (412) 566-1645 or email dmartin@arthritis.org.

 

 

Lori Knapp

Arthritis Foundation Ambassador

Western PA Chapter

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