My name is Deborah Rickards, I live in Fremantle, Western Australia. I was diagnosed with Giant Cell arteritis/ Takayasu arteritis approximately 5 years ago. This diagnosis came a year and a half after experiencing an at home cardiac arrest and was eventually found via a P.E.T scan.
I am keen to be part of the VPPRN as vasculitis in general is very misunderstood, even within the medical community. This is important to me (and others) as the more this disease/illness is normalized the more compassionate and empathy can be given to those who live life in this way. It is also important to be able to access research that allow for vasculitis to be further studied, which can only be of help to all of us!”