Day One - Fight the Fusion 2020

Welcome to Day One of Fight the Fusion 2020.

I started Fight the Fusion last year as a fundraising and awareness campaign to bring attention to several types of Arthritis and Spondyloarthropies. This includes illnesses such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Ankylosing Spondylitis, all of which can affect people at any age. 

Ankylosing Spondylitis, the arthritic illness that I have been diagnosed with, is actually more common in younger adults. 

I was diagnosed at 26 years of age. 

I, personally, have a long history of autoimmune and inflammatory medical conditions, beginning at age 14 with Ulcerative Colitis. Along with IBD, I also have Hashimoto's, Hereditary Angioedema, early onset Macular Degeneration, Psoriasis, Chronic Migraines, and a few other issues. Up until the diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis, I was still playing volleyball up to 18 hours a week, softball and beach volleyball in the summers, kayaking, going to the gym, as well as working a full-time day job and two or three part-time jobs. 

Of course, I still wound up in the ER about once a month and had terrible flare-ups, even consistent symptoms, but my energy was still high, my pain primarily in my intestines, and I rarely felt weak. 

Then the AS hit. Starting with severe pain in my hips and lower back, as well as my shoulder blades. I started suspecting a larger problem than simple sore joints or muscles when I had a difficult time getting up off the floor after diving for a ball. Or when I could barely serve the ball because my shoulder blades felt like they were grinding, combined with severe muscle seizing & spasms. 

It took eight months of searching to finally be diagnosed with AS - at 26 years old. 

I could not physically play volleyball anymore. 

I had to quit my evening jobs. 

I was encouraged to stop working from my day job. 

I began using a cane, then a walker. Now I use a cane most of the time and a wheelchair for longer distances (like going to a mall or trade show). 

My activities became more and more low-impact. 

Now I rely on practicing yoga, going kayaking, and light stretching and low-impact activities to try and keep my joints moving and my muscles strong, though I have lost a ton of strength. 

These diseases are no joke. 

This year, because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, I am not asking for donations to be made to Arthritis Research Canada. All I am asking is for those with any arthritic condition to share photos of themselves trying to #FightTheFusion in their daily lives. Please share photos over the next week of activities that help you overcome the pain, hobbies that help you mentally, emotionally, physically, and ways that you remain positive through difficult and painful illness. 

I, personally, will still be making a donation on behalf of Fight the Fusion, and there is a link on the web version of this page if you do wish to make a small donation, however that is not what I am asking. 

Next year we will resume with fundraising efforts and draw prizes. This year is all about awareness. 

Thank you to all Fight the Fusion participants. Use the hashtag and/or tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and your posts could be featured on my page and potentially on this blog. 

Practicing yoga, kayaking, and constant playtime with the dogs are all ways that I Fight the Fusion: 

Working hard on my backbends, trying to keep the flexibility in my spine for as long as possible. 

Lying on the soft Beam by Nimbleback (last year's largest sponsor of this fundraiser) 

Our two puppies, Decker and Comet, enjoying some time outside. 

My favourite pose to open up the hips and help ease the pain in my SI joints.