Hello. My name is C.J. and I am from Houston Texas. I was diagnosed with RA at the age of 15 but have suffered in silence most of my life. I was misdiagnosed for most of my childhood and can't remember a day without pain. Today at the age of 22, I have already had hand surgery in both hands. My RA went into remission for 3 yrs. But after having hand surgery it came back and is now very severe. I have tried all of the RA drugs and my body has not responded to any of them. The pain is severe and constant. I have become a woman of strength and maturity far beyond my years. With the rising of each day new challenges come my way. And I accept each challenge with my head held high possessing a strength that only God himself can give. RA has effected every possible area of my life. But the one thing RA will never be able to take from me is my education. I am now a student at UTMB school of nursing. And I know that because of my life long struggle with RA I will be able to show a level of compassion and empathy to future patients that most could never give. My entire life I will forever be a patient. But this is my chance to give back and to fight back against a disease that has taken so much from me.

I write a blog about my life with RA to keep my family and friends informed about my health. I've found blogging to be a very easy way of communicating with my loved ones. And it helps me get my thoughts and feelings out. http://courtlaine.blogspot.com