Blog
Swimming Through Uncertainty: Caitlyn Friebe’s Journey to GPA
- GPA, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Swimming Through Uncertainty: Caitlyn Friebe’s Journey to GPA For most of her life, 20-year-old Caitlyn has measured time in laps, splits, and swim seasons. A Division I collegiate swimmer from Springfield, Missouri, her world has long revolved around the discipline and demands of the pool. From a young age, she learned how to show up […]
“I Have a Disease, But I am Not Sick” – Alejandra Schoo’s Vasculitis Journey
- PAN, Polyarteritis nodosa
- Polyarteritis Nodosa
“I Have a Disease, But I am Not Sick” Alejandra Schoo’s Vasculitis Journey At 57 years old, Alejandra described herself as someone who is constantly seeking growth, both personally and professionally. Living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with her husband, Rodrigo, and close to her adult children, Paloma and Facundo, family and emotional connection have always […]
Through Loss, Motherhood, and Illness: Sahala Sufair’s Journey to Hope
- Takayasu Arteritis
- Takayasu Arteritis
Through Loss, Motherhood, and Illness: Sahala Sufair’s Journey to Hope Thirty-year-old Sahala never imagined that a small pain in her neck would become the beginning of a life-changing journey. Originally from Kerala, India, and now living in Doha, Qatar, with her husband and young daughter, her story is one of survival, resilience, heartbreak, and hope […]
When Darkness Came, Strength Was Born: Janet DeLuca’s Vasculitis Story
- Behçet's, Behçet’s Syndrome
- Behçet’s Syndrome
When Darkness Came, Strength Was Born: Janet DeLuca’s Vasculitis Story At 31 years old, Janet’s life changed forever. After more than a decade of searching for answers—years filled with unexplained symptoms, hospitalizations, inconclusive tests, uncertainty, and fear—she was finally diagnosed with Behçet’s disease, a rare and severe form of vasculitis that causes inflammation in blood […]
Finding Her Voice Again: Patricia McKenzie’s Journey with GPA
- GPA, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Finding Strength in the Unknown: Esmeralda Carrera’s Journey with Vasculitis
- GPA, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Finding Strength in the Unknown: Esmeralda Carrera’s Journey with Vasculitis At just 24 years old, Esmeralda is balancing life as a wife and mother of three—one boy and twin girls—while navigating a life-changing diagnosis. Living in Dallas, Texas, she described herself simply as “a very friendly, empathetic, and clumsy person,” a self-portrait that feels both […]