Last year, I did some work with the wonderful people at the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, interviewing them about a terrific new opportunity to help people with arthritis keep working. I was thrilled when they approached me about writing an article for their spring newsletter. Again, the subject was work. I told the story of my dreams, my studies and my career and how I’ve made it work with RA:

“Nine years ago, I couldn’t imagine I would ever fulfill my lifelong dream of writing a book, and becoming an advocate for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nine years ago, I thought my life was over. But I get ahead of myself.

Growing up with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in the 1970s in Denmark meant spending a lot of time in hospitals. There were no effective treatments for JIA and this led to my early disability. I received three “gifts” when I was 16. The first two were hip replacements, making it possible for me to sit up for the first time since my hips fused two years earlier. The third was a power wheelchair so I could go home after a four-year hospital stay. Finally free, I joined my friends in high school and tried having as normal a life as possible.”

You can read the rest of my article in the Arthritis Research Center of Canada Spring Newsletter. And while you’re there, I highly recommend signing up for their excellent newsletter (whether you’re Canadian or not). These people do really good work.