Laura E. James

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Plants vs Zombies & Purple Trainers.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week – 16th – 22nd June 2014.

I have rheumatoid arthritis – RA. I’ve had it since I was eighteen, but I was aware of its existence five years before that when my mother was diagnosed with the condition. It was a shock to learn she had this debilitating and painful disease. I remember crying and wishing I could take it away from her. If only I had it instead of Mum …

RA is considered an invisible disease because many of its symptoms cannot be seen – pain, chronic fatigue, sleeplessness, to name a few.

I can show you my hands and you’ll see scars, nobbly knuckles and fingers with an amazing ability to point round corners, but to see me from across the street, you’d struggle to identify the problem.

And, if you do see me from across the street, that means it’s a good day, and one when I am able to go out. Perhaps the weather’s warm and dry, or I’ve had a rare, but wonderful night’s sleep, or maybe it’s shortly after my weekly injection.

Look at my shoes. They’re comfortable, supportive, sensible. Okay, maybe not sensible in the strictest sense of the word, but there are no killer heels in my wardrobe. Am I wearing trousers? Jeans? Crops? probably, because I struggle to find shoes to wear with skirts and dresses. I have too many dropped or inflamed joints in my feet and my ankles are too weak to withstand fashion footwear.

Dawdling is often my top speed, pulling a zip up on my coat is an achievement worth celebrating, and discovering beautiful pens I can hold takes me way beyond thrilled. Seriously. I love pens. You knew that.

For me, RA is a way of life. I’ve never been a homeowner or worker without it, I had RA years before I met and married Gajitman, and our children have grown up accepting Dad’s the parent who will roll down the hills with them, take them kayaking, or instigate a bundle in the living room. But that’s dads and children, isn’t it?

I’ve had the honour of sharing my love of reading and music with our children, the pleasure of discussing the merits of defending a virtual garden with tallnuts when the zombies attack, and the joy of cuddling up together to watch Disney’s Peter Pan fifteen times in one week.

It’s probable I’d have done the same even if I’d not had rheumatoid arthritis, and if I was offered a guaranteed magic cure, I’d take it, but I am certain I’ve seen things in my life I would have passed by had I been going at full steam.

For more information about rheumatoid arthritis, please visit the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society page.

Take care.

Laura x