Living with a chronic illness can profoundly shape a person’s life, influencing all aspects of self. Anita, a vibrant soul, knows this reality intimately. Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) when she was 27, Anita’s life has been a testament to resilience and seeing the positive in every situation.
RA is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, causing inflammation, pain, and joint damage if left untreated. For Anita, the initial diagnosis was a whirlwind of emotions. But she knew she was young and wanted to live a full life. Her medications helped her to study, travel through Europe and live life her way.
The challenge came when she decided to start a family. Her medications could not be taken while trying for a baby. So she came off them – dealing with the pain and the joint damage that came with it. Her and her husband’s journey to being a family took longer than anticipated. It was a struggle for them, the ups and downs. Eventually, she needed to go back on the medication and find an alternative to parenthood.
Now, Anita has two boys she loves dearly, and runs macrame workshops – Knots by Anita.
As Anita continues to navigate her journey with RA, she embodies resilience and a spirit that refuses to be defined by limitations. Her story is a testament to the power of determination and the human spirit’s capacity to thrive in adversity.
In our podcast episode, we laughed and cried as Anita shared her story so openly from rushing through London with a faxed prescription to find her meds to her unwavering dedication to her family.