Introducing WAAD14!!!! Join Us for an International Online Convention of 2014!!!

World Arthritis Day 2014!!!!

World Autoimmune Arthritis Day

November 4 

Are you ready for WAAD14? Are you ready for the largest virtual gathering of nonprofits and autoimmune arthritis resources available under one roof?

Get ready... while WAAD14 is hosted for 47 consecutive hours ONLINE at a separate website/Virtual Convention site starting May 19th at 6am ET/USA, the Countdown to WAAD14 starts in March!

This years' theme, "A Day in the Life of an Autoimmune Arthritis Patient" will kick off in March with dozens of nonprofits from around the world joining forces to play "Amazing Race" type educational awareness games, all created and managed by your WAAD14 creators and Hosts, the International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis.

Get excited for WAAD14!

If you are a nonprofit and want to sign up please email Tami@IFAutoimmuneArthritis.org.

My Very Own Way I Can Show "My" Little piece of the World I "Represent" International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis

             Representing International Foundation of AutoImmune Arthritis

I did not get to put these photos up yesterday with the doctors visits and so forth. Holidays, RA, Lupus, pain, stiffness, medications, stress, all rolled up into one huge ball when you are right in the middle of any type of Chronic Pain, Disease, and/or Autoimmune Arthritic Diseases.

I have shared the "story" about this bracelet (that by the way I AM WEARING)! "proudly" I may say also. So, proudly, I find myself not wanting to take it off. So, it is a wonderful idea that there is one of the "rubber types" that come with these. That way I can shower, do laundry, housework, or just about anything, and still have "IFAA" right on my hand, and at my side! Tiffany "hand makes" every one of this original "Buckle Me Up" Bracelets just as she did from the very 1st one. Which is how IFAA took its' first baby steps, into a "Movement" and then quickly to a "Non-Profit" Foundation, which is moving ahead for patients by leaps and bounds! These are a bit "blurry". I took them hurriedly yesterday morning. But, I'll get more today that are clearer and much better. But for now I just have to share these!!!

A bit about my own "Active Volunteer" journey. I happened to have met Tiffany Westrich Robertson, who is the "founder" of what now is known as the IFAA. Through a mutual Facebook friend, I found out about an "art" show that would benefit RA, Lupus, Still's Disease, Juvenile RA. Sjogren's, MCTD, UCTD along with the other autoimmune arthritic diseases that I suffer from, but I also am and have been a very strong ADVOCATE for in getting things changed for us as Patients, Caretakers, Friends, Family, and the Medical Profession. I had sent a message to her about my two published books! I thought they may help the "cause". So, I offered to send a copy of both to her for the "art" show that was to benefit this cause! I got to be friends with Tiffany and follow her life a bit through Facebook. I quickly found out her story about RA, and the same "rivers" that flow way to long before we get out of rushing waters of these illnesses was her journey also. I found out from there about her foundation, volunteering, and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I needed to be an Active Volunteer! Thus here I am.... I share these with you, and they are a proud reminder of the difference I am watching unfold through IFAA!!!!   Rhia


Here is what the beads and the design mean on the "Buckle Me Up" Bracelet as it was called in its' beginning.

The 3 silver beads & 3 black beads represent all people working together to make a difference. Red is the color of strength & signifies the strength we all achieve in numbers. The final silver bead symbolizes moving forward to find more people to join the movement to raise a global awareness about Autoimmune Arthritis diseases ...

"The International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis".

The "IAAM" was the "infant" stage of IFAA. Beginning as a "Movement" - it was named "International Autoimmune Arthritis Movement", then "moved" forth to be the IFAA.

So, the "IAAM" means (on the rubbery bracelet)

I am..

A Leader For Change,

Hopeful,

A Believer in Progress,

And Rebranding Stereotypes.

I Am an Advocate for

Autoimmune Arthritis Awareness.

    http://www.IFAutoimmuneArthritis.org

More Exciting News & My Blog Posting Helping Elsewhere....

Excited to Blog Elsewhere for An Extremely Important Cause 

Even though I am working to get my "first post" up, since I have been accepted to be a "Blog leader" for IFAA's blog, "Systemically Connected", I wanted to tell all of you! I've been so thrilled about this, that I can't stand to wait any longer!!!! :):) After getting to "graduate" this week from IFAA's "class" to become an "Active Volunteer" for them, I just have to include that I will be posting on their blog from time to time also. When all is in place, I will also have my blog link up in their website, and I'll be listed in the "Systemically Connected" Blog Writers! :):) I am just so overwhelmed, and in a good way about all of it. As just about all of you know, my "advocacy" and helping others fight these autoimmune arthritic illnesses, as well as all of the AI illnesses is NUMBER 1 for me!! Thus my writing, getting a couple of books published, and now as I hope "possibly" to have book number 3!!! able to be published by the end of 2014!!!  (I am not promising anything, because you never know what is in store) but my plan is to try and have it written, and ready for publication late 2014 or early 2015.  That one is so very important because it will be my own journey through the lifestyle of those with chronic illness and chronic pain... and a bit more about my life's path... Anyway, I realize with "health" there are no guarantees... and I fear the Rituxan maybe wearing off sooner than expected. I am having the same pain I had before I had the infusions over the past week, so I pray it is just the weather being so nuts, and not the medication "stopping" to work before the 4 to 6 months it should last. ...more to come... I want to get my blog post on this up and then get busy on a couple more things for today!!!! 


By the way, both IFAA and Systemically Connected have link right on the front page on my blog here. You will see them down on the right hand side below my posts.....


Rhia

Chronically Ill Unite September 14 to Blog About Invisible Illness Issues

9/9/09 – SBWIRE – SAN DIEGO — Who would guess that nearly half of the U.S. population lives with a chronic illness? But according to a study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation over 133 million people have an illness or condition, most of which are invisible, and many that cause daily pain. Illnesses can range from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy to diabetes, multiple sclerosis to fibromyalgia, or painful conditions like back pain and migraines.
With 75 percent of internet users using the internet for health information (Pew Internet Project, 8/08) and many of them seeking support, thousands of bloggers now post daily journals about the emotional challenges they face with daily chronic pain.
National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 14-20, 2009, invites bloggers to have a significant role in their awareness campaign. For example, part of their outreach has been featuring guest bloggers on their own web site invisibleillnessweek.com , as well as inviting bloggers around the globe to commit to blogging about invisible illness issues. To help spread the word they have also create a meme, “30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know” that people have posted on Facebook, blogs and other social networks.
Lisa Copen, who founded National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week in 2002 says, “Though our illnesses and symptoms may vary, we still have a great deal in common. We can learn from one another about coping and finding the balance of taking care of ourselves yet living life to the fullest.” Copen says patient blogs aren’t depressing like healthy people may assume. “Illness bloggers don’t typically dwell on the logistics of symptoms, lab tests, or hospital stays. Instead, they write on everyday topics and how their illness impacts their families, finances, careers. They may discuss patient advocacy issues, but they also write about vacationing with an illness or dating when you have a chronic illness.”
Invisible Illness Week was recently the host of Grand Rounds, the largest medical blog carnival on the internet.
Over 300 people have officially committed to blogging for Invisible Illness Week so far and many are sharing on their Facebook notes page or other social network. Copen encourages those who do not have a blog to shares something about their illness with Facebook friends, a few Twitter posts, or even in the comments section of the invisibleillnessweek.com web site.
If you would like to join this unique opportunity to blog for awareness about invisible illnesses, see www.invisibleillnessweek.com for details. Invisible
Illness Week’s highlight is a 5-day virtual conference with 20 speakers that can be heard online for free on a topics such as marriage with illness, applying for disability, setting boundaries, and when your child is ill.
Copen is also the founder of Rest Ministries which sponsors the event and IllnessTwitters.ning.com for anyone who “tweets” on health or medical conditions.