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As a college athlete, Heidi took extra care of her body to make sure that she stayed in top form to compete. However, something was wrong and Heidi headed to the doctor. When the pain and frustration she felt was diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Heidi had to give up her college athletic career. Heidi is no quitter. She continues to be as active as possible by biking and participating in run/walk events with the Arthritis Foundation. If you were to meet her on the street, all you would notice is a pretty young woman off on some adventure. You wouldn't know that she has to have her parents or friends open her food jars or unscrew the cap on her toothpaste because she can't. You wouldn't know that by her mid-twenties she has already had a knee replacement. You wouldn't know that she has already had to consider the possibility of never having her own children because she would have to stop taking the medications that are keeping her RA in check. While Heidi doesn't know what the future will hold, she does know how to get through the day-to-day. She is also helping others by volunteering her time at Camp M.A.S.H. (Make Arthritis Stop Hurting) as a counselor, serving on planning committees and going to Washington D.C. to tell legislators her story to encourage and even demand that they sign the Prevention, Control and Cure Act to help those with arthritis, just like her.
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