By Brittany Brewster
Joann Hall had been living life to the fullest, enjoying her active routine of gym workouts, running, swimming, yoga, and Tai Chi classes. She revelled in jumping for Grand Kadooment and enjoying her fair share of events. But in March 2001, her life took an unexpected and painful turn when she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) at the age of 35.
RA, an autoimmune disorder, had silently crept into Joann’s life, causing her immune system to mistakenly attack her healthy cells, resulting in painful inflammation in various parts of her body, especially her joints. The diagnosis was a shock to Joann, who had always been at the peak of health and had no prior knowledge of the disease.
I thought arthritis was an old people’s disease,” Joann recalled. “I was leading a normal, active life in my 30s when I started feeling pain in my legs. Initially, I blamed my gym shoes, but the pain all over me worsened to the point I couldn’t even grip my steering wheel.
She soon developed flu-like symptoms and, concerned by her rapidly deteriorating health, consulted a doctor. After blood tests, the diagnosis of RA was confirmed, leaving Joann in a state of uncertainty, grappling with a disease she knew little about.
RA primarily targeted her joints, and the relentless inflammation took a toll on her joint tissue, causing chronic pain, instability, and deformities. Joann’s journey was fraught with challenges, but her resilient spirit pushed her forward.
The disease’s relentless progression led to severe damage to the ligaments in both her knees, necessitating full knee replacement surgeries, and the high costs of these surgeries forced Joann to take out a medical loan, adding to her burdens.
As she battled the disease with strong medications, additional symptoms, including eye pain and excessive thirstiness surfaced. Joann was bewildered by this new development.
Once again, she returned to the doctor to undergo more tests, and this is when she found out she had developed diabetes due to one of the medications she was taking for RA.
“At first, I couldn’t believe it, and I was a bit angry because I was just 35 years old, had just started my career as a social worker, and I had just taken out a loan for a mortgage – so everything was going well. And this thing just came out of the blue, and because leading up to it there wasn’t anything I could have done to cause this, I was confused, angry, and I didn’t know what to do,” she lamented.
Now with yet another diagnosis on her plate, joints that were failing her, and having to walk with a cane, she had no choice but to lean on those around her.
Her brother Greg conducted extensive research on RA and sent her information about what she needed to be eating and what exercises she should be doing. Her mother ensured her diet remained on track, and her sister flew in from Toronto to accompany her to appointments.
Later, when Joann moved into her own home and had her second knee surgery, her partner, Dave, stepped up to provide unwavering support, and at work, her colleagues did the same.
Not only did they try to understand her challenges, but they actively sought ways to assist her.
Despite her health challenges, Joann was determined to return to her work as a School Social Worker, helping students and families facing educational and social issues. However, she faced another setback when she contracted Chikungunya, which exacerbated her joint pain.
“I don’t think the pain of finding out that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis was as bad as the pain I had when I had Chikungunya; that was the worst thing ever to happen to me. It affected every joint in my body…every single joint. Even now I have problems walking barefoot, and that was something I loved to do,” she admitted.
However, Joann’s determination prevailed, and she slowly resumed her fitness routine, including spin classes and light exercises. However, it was during this time that she took a fall in the supermarket, and while she didn’t initially feel the pain of the fall, it came back to haunt her.
Joann recalled having pain in her hip while at a picnic with some of her friends and work colleagues, and while she pushed through it, the pain was unbearable.
In August 2022, she visited her orthopaedic surgeon due to severe pain in her right hip, after he conducted an assessment and an X-ray, it was revealed that her entire hip was gone and she would now require a total hip replacement, which cost $50 000.
“I cried in the doctor’s office because I’m thinking this is not happening again. I tried everything, I was doing everything right, but it still wasn’t enough,” she recalled.
To make matters worse, she now had to find a way to get the funds needed to get the surgery done, while still dealing with the excruciating pains that come with the disease.
Having reached out to her medical insurance provider and being turned down because Rheumatoid Arthritis is a pre-existing condition, the positive spirit who always tries to find the good in every situation found herself frustrated, which led her to confide in her work colleagues.
Upon hearing Joann’s story, her dedicated colleagues, Risa Stuart, Maisha Holder, and Melissa Walcott, who have been working with “Jo” as they like to call her, sprang into action to support her in her time of need.
“When you see Jo in the office or even at schools interacting with the children, it is an inspiration to me because knowing what she is going through, knowing that some days are good days and some days are bad days, we don’t see it. Sometimes I can’t believe that she is the one going through all this pain and is still so positive,” Melissa shared.
As an emotional Walcott sat beside Joann in her Orange Hill, St. James home, she noted that while a GoFundMe page was created by Joann’s niece to help raise funds for the $50 000 full hip replacement surgery, she along with her colleagues wanted to do more to help.
The three women first started with donation cards but after careful thought the trio wanted to not only raise funds for Joann but also raise awareness about Rheumatoid Arthritis.
This Sunday from 3 p.m., Melissa and her dedicated colleagues will host a drive and sponsor walk, inviting individuals to join them in a show of support and donate to the cause.
“People need to share their experiences with RA because it’s something you cannot do alone. You need a support system of not just family but friends and colleagues,” Melissa emphasised.
Joann, determined to be an advocate for those affected by RA and their families, shared her perspective, urging people not to take everyday activities for granted.
It just takes a moment for you to become disabled. I was young, I was active, I was living my best life, I was eating right, doing everything right and in just a moment I was told I had Rheumatoid Arthritis, so people mustn’t take doing everyday activities for granted because like in my case, life can change in an instant,” she said.
A self-described “RA Warrior”, Joann exemplifies resilience in the face of excruciating pain as she endeavours to remain kind and positive despite the daily challenges.
“Being an RA Warrior means fighting every day, starting with an attitude of gratitude that carries you through the day. When you return home, as my mum says, you thank God that you came back safe and sound. Then, you prepare to live and fight another day,” Joann declared.
Those interested in participating in the RA sponsor walk on Sunday can contact Melissa Walcott at 235-9969. Donations can be made through GoFundMe at [https://www.gofundme.com/f/y2bra-help-for-joann](https://www.gofundme.com/f/y2bra-help-for-joann).
brittanybrewster@barbadostoday.bb
