Dealing with disability and chronic pain has changed me over the last two years. I went from being able to do anything and everything to being limited to activities and learning to listen to my body constantly. I have also dealt with adversity, harassment, and ignorance at my work place. I have learned a lot about humility, as well as having the ability to find joy in the little things in life. Sometimes in life we get dealt a certain deck of cards and we need to continue to preserver, to grow, and be better. I have found my voice, my power, by advocating and supporting others newly diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am on the committee for the Arthritis Foundation and am currently raising money for the Walk to Cure Arthritis in Boston this coming June. Finding joy in supporting others dealing with new diagnoses has given me a greater purpose and also helps me find strength those days the pain is just astronomical. I met a friend, Mary, back in March of 2020 when I was diagnosed, it was at the peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic and she was diagnosed that same day. We found comfort in the fact that we understood what each other was going through and that was so important. Her and I continue to support others as we had once supported each other back in 2020. She and her family will be coming to the Arthritis Walk in Boston and it will be the first time we have met in person. Up to now it has been Facebook messaging, texting, and the occasional phone call. I am currently in Nurse Practitioner school and plan on specializing in Palliative Care. I have always been passionate about quality of life at the end of ones life. All to often I feel as though clinicians have a lack of comfort with death and dying. In pursuing this dream I will continue to spread awareness, educate, and be a leader in supporting and advocating for those that cannot for themselves. Supporting families in the darkest, toughest of days. Having a person who "gets it" is everything, and if I can help one person find a smile, or find hope at a point where none can be seen it is worth it! Here's my link if you would like to donate! https://events.arthritis.org/participant/saracrowley

After being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in the midst of a global pandemic and working as a bedside nurse I had to find a resilience that I never thought I had in me. It has been almost two years now and I have grown tremendously as a mom, wife, and nurse. This illness was initially a curse a hindrance to me reaching my full potential. I was in massive pain daily having panic attacks constantly, having feelings of severe hopelessness. However, fast forward to last year I came out of this isolating and lonely place. I found solace in helping others navigate their new RA diagnoses through social media and also helped in raising money to support research and bring awareness for those suffering from Arthritis with the Arthritis Foundation. Last year due to the pandemic it wasn't able to be a big event, we ended up only having a tailgate event in Boston, MA, but hopefully, with 2022 we will make it bigger than ever. And if we can't get a crowd together due to the continuing pandemic, we can continue to spread awareness and raise money regardless. Another huge leap I took last year was starting Graduate school to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. I have been a nurse for sixteen years at this point and it has always been something that I wanted to do. Why you ask after being out sixteen years and with a new debilitating illness would I ever want to go back to school? Well, I learned life is just too short! The time is now to follow my dreams and make a bigger impact. At this point, I don't know if I will go the Palliative Care/ Hospice route which has always been my passion or if I will choose Rheumatology so that I can help others navigate this horrible disease. Being in the day-to-day struggle with this disease I really feel as though I could make a huge impact with patients suffering from this disease and other autoimmune diseases as well. This scholarship would be huge for me. It would help me be able to more comfortably pay for my tuition without the financial strain. With being limited to the number of extra shifts I can work due to my illness this would make for a much less stressful situation. Please consider me for this scholarship! I will continue to work hard and pay it forward in providing the best care imaginable to my patients!

The pandemic has affected my life in many ways. Not only have I been a nurse working through this pandemic but I've also dealt with a new diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. In dealing with both of these things over the last year and a half, they have put my life into perspective. Life is too short. I truly believe you have to live each day like it could be your last. Always tell those you love how you feel. Do your best to let things go and not stay mad at those you love. I have to say prior to all this I tended to hold grudges, this has changed me as I now let things go much more easily than I ever have. Being a nurse working through this pandemic I have seen much loss. I also personally lost my Gram during the peak of COVID, a new diagnosis, and the world shutting down. I have seen so much strength, courage and resilience within people. I have seen kindness and generosity all around me. I tend to notice the little things in life I never stopped to appreciate prior. This pandemic/new diagnosis have made me follow my dreams of pursuing a Masters Degree in Nursing which I've wanted to do for years. I'm so excited to start this program in the upcoming weeks. Can't wait to see what the future holds for me.

"Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." Theodore Roosevelt After being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis last year during the COVID pandemic and working as a registered nurse in an ICU I was challenged more than I ever have been in my life. Physically, mentally, and also emotionally. I also at the same time dealt with a huge personal loss in my life. My gram had been my rock my whole life, my "go to person" when life just got plain old tough. She passed suddenly not five days after my diagnosis, and the world was in "lock down" that same week. As I reflect back on this time I had to muster up strength and courage that I never could have imagined to get through that horrible time. I had to push through not only immense physical pain but also very high emotional, mental, and spiritual distress. Having watched my father being crippled by this disease from a very young age made my fear response off the charts high. Courage and strength were on my mind constantly and even over a year and a half later are still in my thoughts daily. As I continue to navigate through this illness all the while working as a nurse, taking care of my three sons, and now planning to continue my education attaining my masters degree in nursing. My strength now comes from being knowledgeable about the disease, and being able to mentor and support others newly diagnosed on an online support forum I am a member of. I also did my first Walk to Cure Arthritis in Boston last year which was wonderful. I met several others who are suffering from this awful disease and have still remained in contact with them. I look forward to being an active member moving forward to spread awareness and also support research being done to find a cure.

Generosity to me means KINDNESS, spreading kindness and joy to those around you. Having worked in healthcare for many years I have seen the wonderful but also the terribly sad cases. Even on the roughest of days I try and make a positive impact in the world around me. I can say without hesitation it isn't always easy. I have found that making positive affirmations, doing deep breathing, and utilizing mindfulness techniques always seem to help in those moments. Our unit lately has been extremely busy lately and tensions have been high. Many are overworked and physically and emotionally drained. I and many others find making eye contact, asking how a persons day is going, and expressing gratitude for assisting with a complex case will always improve the atmosphere and spread kindness. I see the more you do this the more others follow suit. Some other acts of kindness I personally have participated in as well are paying for the coffee of the person behind me in line at Dunkin Donuts. I have also donated books and supplies to a family in need in my town after they have experienced large losses. I love to leave stick it notes randomly on peoples cars in the hospital garage saying "you rock," "keep being awesome,' etc. I try and let people merge when driving to make the transition smoother and less stressful for them. Always writing thank you cards for any kind gesture one shows to me and have taught my three young boys to also have this mindset. These are just of the things I do to try and spread kindness. Even in the darkest of days there is generosity and kindness to be seen. Be the light in those dark days!