Life, Death and Everything in Between: My Autoimmune Perspective

The anniversary of Glenn Frey's death from Rheumatoid Arthritis complications is mildly triggering to me. RA is serious and the drugs to treat is are equally serious. It's a high-wire act to stay healthy while knowing your life will likely be shorter than it should be.

It's paramount to do your best to take care of your body; in sickness and health. Make decisions that work for you. I'm on the CRAZIEST drugs ever after failing: methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine, Plaquenil, naproxen, ketoprofen, cortisone, hydrocortisone, Imuran, prednisone, ciclosporin & the fringe drugs to treat reflux, anemia, various deficiencies, nausea from chemo, insomnia, headaches. My internal organs (+blood) are at risk to damage the way my physical bones and joints are. I had my first joint replacement surgery at 17 which is why I missed my final high school exams and flunked out (graduated college no problem though).

I'm now on Enbrel and you can google how wild *that* is. I'm accepting that risk to live a 'normal life'. I've been on it for 20 years this spring. I've got two healthy kids with my college crush and work as a rock n roll DJ in Ottawa, Canada.

Life is good. It's been hard but the hardships have shaped me. They've allowed me to have a perspective on life, death and everything in between that most people do not get (at least at such a young age).

To summarize: your life and experiences are unique. Maybe you'll live to 100... 120, maybe! Maybe you won't. What matters is how you approach your life and how you treat others along the way. Never, ever, ever take any of this for granted because tomorrow isn't guaranteed.