Blog
Healing Is Not a Straight Line: Vlasta’s Journey Through Reconstruction and Recovery
- GPA, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Healing Is Not a Straight Line: Vlasta Racki’s Journey Through Reconstruction and Recovery Since her story was first published (Blooming Through Resilience: A Story of Life with Vasculitis – Vasculitis Foundation), Vlasta says the biggest change hasn’t only been physical—it’s been how she understands healing. Early in her diagnosis, she often felt like she was […]
Nancy Kilbourn’s Story: Finding Answers and Living with Vasculitis
- microscopic polyangiitis, MPA
- Microscopic Polyangiitis
Nancy Kilbourn’s Story: Finding Answers and Living with Vasculitis At 73 years old, Nancy was so exhausted that walking across a room felt overwhelming. She had begun using a cane, was driving less, and slowly withdrawing from activities she once loved. For years she had been searching for answers. Doctor visits and tests kept coming […]
A Second Chance in Life: Ranae Goleman’s Journey with Vasculitis
- Anca Associated Vasculitis, Takayasu Arteritis
- ANCA vasculitis, Takayasu Arteritis
A Second Chance in Life: Ranae Goleman’s Journey with Vasculitis At 35 years old, Ranae lives in Verdigris, Oklahoma, with her husband, Drake, of 14 years. Known for her optimistic outlook and desire to bring joy to others, she says the meaning of her name—“born again”—has taken on deeper significance after everything she has endured. […]
From Advocacy to Impact: Policy Strategies to Accelerate Rare Disease Cures
- Uncategorized
From Advocacy to Impact: Policy Strategies to Accelerate Rare Disease Cures On February 19, the Vasculitis Foundation hosted a virtual rare disease policy briefing that brought together leaders from patient advocacy organizations, research institutions, and congressional offices. The discussion focused on a critical question for the rare disease community: how can policy help accelerate the development of treatments […]
Carrying What Didn’t Break Her: Shelley Nipper’s Vasculitis Story
- GPA, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Carrying What Didn’t Break Her: Shelley Nipper’s Vasculitis Story At 30 years old, Shelley lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee — not as someone defined by illness, but as someone shaped by fortitude. She described herself simply: “I’m resilient, deeply empathetic, faith-driven, and stronger than I ever planned to be.” That strength was forged early on. Six […]
Tonya Campbell’s Journey With GPA: From Diagnosis to Daily Life
- GPA, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
Tonya Campbell’s Journey With GPA: From Diagnosis to Daily Life Fifty-seven-year-old Tonya is a devoted teacher from Vicksburg, Mississippi, who has always centered her life around family, faith, and service. She and her husband, Carl, raised twins, Sarah and Matthew, after facing early infertility. For decades, she poured her heart into her public-school classroom and […]