I’m not sure how to begin this but I’ve pondered it for too long so – here we go…
Dear Walk Participants,
I want to apologize to everyone for not being as involved in the walk this year as you all deserve me to be.
I could go into the reasons why – but I’ll spare you the details. Suffice it to say – AS has had its way with me lately and I’ve been struggling to do just about everything my life needs of me. So as it goes – everything has been affected and not accomplished to the level and standard that I wish I could insist on always. As many of you know, when AS gets the better of us there is nothing to do but hunker down, wait it out, keep going, FIGHT, and hope that a period of lessened disease activity is somewhere on the 
horizon.
I think I can see it coming! I think I am moving back into remission – I hate to say this and jinx it because it has been a long haul and I want to be back to that place so badly. It is a place that I actually feel guilty of having been lucky enough to have spent years in. So many with AS never get remission and here I am wanting another one. I want it – we all desperately want it. “It” is a somewhat normal existence – something people without a chronic autoimmune disease cannot possible understand. I wish I could come up with just the right story or anecdote or post that explained it in a way for “aha” moments from our friends and family but there is no understanding unless you live it.
I just hope for empathy and benefit of the doubt. I want people to believe us when we say that living with a form of auto-immune arthritis is a constant challenge and a life of fighting. Fighting to show up. Fighting to stay optimistic. Fighting to get the best care we can. Fighting to carry out even simple daily tasks because the weight of ongoing pain and fatigue builds and builds and builds to a point where we live in air that is like jello – we have to strain against every movement at times. This can make the idea of movement and walking so daunting and overwhelming when we have been through a spell of flares and higher disease activity or regular life stresses are added in. All these things affect how the disease comes out in our bodies. We battle to find an equilibrium or balance point or for those who are especially fortunate – remission. This is why I know what it means for people to join this walk. Your commitment and continued involvement through the ups and downs is an epic undertaking and I am continually amazed by your bravery and courage.
I want to thank each and every participant and supporter for your belief in me, in this walk, in what we are working to accomplish, and… in yourselves! Bravo to you for joining in and taking on this challenge. And please give a huge round of applause to all of our amazing team captains who this walk wouldn’t happen without – they are our heart and soul!
I hope you’ll join with me over the next three weeks to kick up the steps and enthusiasm and end year three of Walk Your A.S. Off on a great high!
My deepest heartfelt thanks,
Jenna Visscher
P.S. I’m feeling better and stronger every day so look out world! For 2015 we are looking at various opportunities to put in place even more structures and methods of making our walk run smoothly & successfully. Thank you for hanging in there with us as we grow and develop.
P.P.S. YES – I will post numbers this weekend!
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