I Wanna Dance ..

Yesterday I felt like dancing for 10 hours straight. You know not too long ago I was a Tahitian and Hula dancer, I competed and taught Latin Ballroom, I created choreography for dozens of Traditional Filipino Cotillions, I was a #CrossFit & Yoga Monster (jumping from Bosu to Bosu and onto 3.5 feet tall tractor tires) … but today, I am in pain.

I worked so hard to be in the best shape of my life. Then one day I wake up with half of my body covered in what I thought at the time was #Hives. I was so confused. I had no idea what I had done the day before to cause me to break out in this rash. Since it wasn’t causing me any discomfort, I went into self-remedy-mode: Warm salt rinse, Collagen pads, Aloe; and any type of topicals that I could get my hands on. This rash “persisted” for about a week and half when I decided to detox. I ate clean, no alcohol or caffeine of any kind, zero sweets, all that good stuff. I thought for sure that it may have been “something I ate” so there. This should make it go away right?! No, I actually developed a larger patch on my shins.

Once this “rash” was visible for all to see was when I went to my doctor. She then referred me to a dermatologist who told me that it could be either #Eczema or #Psoriasis. He gave me some topical ointments to rub on and called it a day. When it wasn’t getting better I sought out a dermatologist who specialized in Eczema and/or Psoriasis and that’s when I was officially diagnosed with Psoriasis. Only 6 months later was I diagnosed with #PsA or #PsoriaticArthritis and my life has been forever changed.

Today, I walk for me. I walk in hopes that maybe one day soon I can have my life back. I don’t regret this part of my life .. this struggle .. for it has reminded me of the strength and resilience within .. but I long to glide across the floor again as if I were flying, to dance without a time limit, to move without pain.

Today, I raise money for the #medical research that I believe in, for the work that is being funded now so that I can still have an active future, for the answers that all have longed for.

Today, I will participate in every event, in every walk, in every conference so that I can make a difference in some way.

Please support my #DREAM of a life free of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis by making a donation today.

All money raised by #TeamNPFsf Walk provides people with psoriatic disease the services they need to live well, while funding research for a cure. Thank you so much for your support of this project that is sooooo important to me. Join me! We can do together what I simply cannot do alone.

http://npf.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=5819