May is Arthritis Awareness Month- Change your Avatar to Spread the Word

By Editorial Team

May 1, 2016

May is arthritis awareness month – and one of the easiest ways to spread awareness is to change your avatar (profile image). You can download any of the images below to use as your avatar.

[avatar]

Instructions for changing your avatar across social media platforms:

Change your Facebook profile picture
Change your Twitter profile picture
Change your Google+ profile picture
To change your RheumatoidArthritis.net profile picture, log in, and at the top of the page click the circle image and choose profile. Then choose change profile photo.

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gingerlynn1958
May 1, 2016
I have an only child, a son, aged 40, who's raising his children alone for the past 9 years. As we live on the the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Affordable Healthcare act is not accepted. After several years of trying to get him a primary care physician, he was given 7 types of medicines and diagnosed with RA and Lupus. He then told my son that his only option of obtaining an RA specialist was to go to Jackson. My son drives a 1978 Ford Pick Up, which was my father's, so driving 4 hours back an forth, also not an option. He's had a heart attack, an emergency appendectomy, and lung infection in less than 6 months. He's been blacking out and Friday night was the clincher. He went to Taco Bell to grab the children some food and blacked out after ordering. The next thing he remembers is policemen having him "walk the line". Truck was towed and he was taken to jail (first time in his life), for public drunk, although they used 3 breathalizers and no alcohol registered. He doesn't drink but told him he had to be on something.That's when he explained he had RA/Lupus but the damage was done. He was already in the booking process. He explained that he had bouts with memory failure, all to no avail., althought one of the officers was quite apoligetic. Not just because he's my son, but he is such a good man and even though the mother walked off years ago, he's been the best father, a good man, who lives by his morals and values. I have no idea why or who I'm writing this to, but I have to save my son, my grandchildren's only parent. I'm scared, tears flowing as I write this. Any input would be much appreciated. Signed: Worried Ma
1. Lauren Tucker Admin
 May 2, 2016
 Hi Gingerlynn, Wow, thanks so much for sharing your son's story with us. We are so sorry to hear all that has happened. So glad to hear he has such a supportive and loving mother like you to help him. We saw that you posted on our facebook page and our Moderator Kelly Dabel referenced a few articles as well as offered some support for your family. We hope you find this to be helpful. Please reach out to us if you need anything else. We are thinking of you and your family. Thank you for being part of our community. Best Wishes, Lauren (Community Manager <a href='http://RheumatidArthritis.net' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer nofollow'>RheumatidArthritis.net</a>)