Autumn Ehnow, 33

For 23 years I have been able to count on the unpredictability of the debilitating, painful and physically destructive disease, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have had 13 major joint surgeries, lost my hair due to chemotherapy treatments, been in a wheelchair when I could not walk and suffered through countless mornings that I did not think I could get out of bed. Fortunately I have also been able to count on my friends, family and my own abilities to keep me moving!
 
At age 13, I remember looking in the mirror at my hips and legs and thinking- well tomorrow you will be on your way to walking again but you will have a scar here forever. That year I had my left hip replaced and the following year I had my right hip replaced. By the time I was 15, I was a new person, mobile again with my two new hips. I have never looked back and by the way- never have cared about my scars.
 
Through college I had the help of the school's disability office, the state's Vocational Rehabilitation program, advocates of the state and friends who took the initiative to get me through school and had lot's of fun. Back then the medicines were not good. I got an e-mail last year from one friend who was my study buddy through some of the toughest classes like biochemistry- and he reminisced with me about school and then said how hard it was to see me go through my high dose methotrexate treatments. I was amazed, and thankful, I had such good friends that were there for me through those hard years to not only study but go hiking, take flying lessons and scuba dive on occasion. 
 
In 1998 I graduated college with a Bachelor's of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology and started my career working in the pharmaceutical industry working on the development of new treatments for many diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. My passion is to help people with this disease, educate others about RA and maybe even find a cure someday. I have been an active volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation for almost 20 years helping with event planning, fundraising, speaking engagements, camp counselor for kids with arthritis, and doing advocacy work in Washington DC in support of Arthritis.  I am the Northern California Chair for the 2009 Arthritis Walk in San Francisco.
 
Today I strive to keep a balance between my passion, work and my family. I have a fabulous husband, 2 dogs and a cat that keep me moving and happy. In my free time I love to garden, walk my dogs, scuba dive, travel and fly planes.

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