“Living with Ankylosing Spondylitis/Axial Spondyloarthritis is a special kind of life. It's a common disease but so many have never heard of it. I'm confronted with defining and explaining my condition every time I introduce it, which takes considerable energy. Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month every May is an opportunity to educate people about a systemic disease that impacts 2.7 million Americans (including many young people); often causes debilitating chronic low back pain; and is vastly misunderstood by many healthcare providers, leading to misdiagnoses and long delays in final correct diagnosis and treatment.”
This is a quote from our friend, former Summit speaker, and award-winning advocate, Charis Hill. Charis is a professionally disabled writer, activist, speaker, and model living with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. They live with three cats and lots of plants in a falling-apart house bought while living in extreme poverty. Thank you, Charis, for being the unstoppable advocate that you are! 💙