New Beginnings…
As many of you know I have changed the direction of my life this past year. After 25 years in television reporting on fashion and style, I wrote my third book, Take Me Home From The Oscars. My first two books were on fashion, this book a total change in genre, a memoir. It was a challenge to write about a subject that I had kept secret for 20 years. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. There, I put it on the page. I wouldn’t be able to go back again. I was scared. I knew that once the book was out my career as a fashion reporter would be over. Arthritis was associated with being old and crippled. Television and fashion are associated with young and stylish. The two worlds never came together to my knowledge, because celebrities do what I did, they hide.
As page after page of my story unfolded on paper, my desire to tell my journey became more passionate. I asked myself, why don’t celebrities come out to support arthritis? But I knew the answer all along.
Celebrities don’t come out for exactly the same reason I didn’t. They don’t want to be attached to the stigma of arthritis. They too fear for their careers. Fashion and TV don’t want to be associated with aging.
My book came out in May, 2011. With my previous two books the publicity was fast and furious. National TV shows, coverage in magazines and newspapers. A media tour to promote. Life in the fast lane. Only this time it was different. A few newspaper articles but no TV. A friend at Entertainment Tonight gave my book mentions, but no segment. Deborah Norville at Inside Edition, who did an incredible foreward for my book, said that basically, the show was not interested in arthritis. All of my regular shows had reasons why they couldn’t do anything about arthritis. Basically they were all the same. Arthritis is old.
Frustrated and discouraged, I contacted the National Arthritis Foundation, and off to Washington DC I went to speak out about arthritis. It wasn’t TV, but it was powerful. My message was becoming more and more clear to me. Arthritis needs a new image. I never knew 300,000 children had it. I never knew that there are more than 100 types of arthritis. I, like most people, thought it was my grandma’s disease.
Until I got the disease.
Now I understand.
One in five people will have some form of arthritis.
Arthritis knows no age boundaries.
Arthritis is the most misunderstood disease.
I needed to get the word out.
And I am.
First with the Arthritis Foundation, then social media, now with national TV. Because I have a new outlook on arthritis, people are starting to listen. Today, diagnosed and treated early there is hope.
And so, my friends, begins this blog. Come along with me on this new venture. The biggest challenge of my life…and yours.
My voice is strong.
My message is clear.
I am determined.
Together we can remove the stigma.
Today it’s a new arthritis.
Christine, I’m so pleased that you are representing RA and spreading awareness. I can’t thank you enough! The autoimmune arthritis community is in dire need of a celebrity spokesperson to help the public know our diseases. Especially the fact that the arthritis we have is not osteoarthritis from aging, and affects more than just our joints. I was diagnosed with RA in 2009, I figured it out on the internet after being frustrated with 2 years of my doctors calling it osteoarthritis. I knew for sure it wasn’t when I realized I had daily low grade fever. Recently a fellow RA’er read your book, loved it, and recommended it to me. I just received my copy and can’t wait to start reading! ps loved your blog post!
HI!! Straight from Vancouver BC my name is Erin I have ankylosing spondylitis and I am 33 years old. I feel like I want to say so much to you but mostly I want to thank you for talking about RA. I struggle with the preception aspect of the disease. You can check out my blog if you ever get some time. I choose to see the positve every single day and today i was so proud of how stron and empowered you were! from the bottom of my heart Thank you. I can not wait to read your book!!
Hi Christine, I cannot thank you enough for spreading the awareness of RA, we speaking of everyone that suffers from all the different forms of arthritis so desperately need someone like you to help get the word out. I’m 47yrs old, I was diagnosed 9 years ago, my RA destroyed my neck and I now have a completely fused neck, it has now progressed and is destroying the rest of my spine, my hips, and knees. I live in constant pain every day of my life, but I keep on going for my family, they are my strength and my life. I’m thankful tho for everyday of my life, and thankful that God has chosen me in an odd sort of way to have this unbearable disease cause it’s made me into the person I am today, to cherish each and everyday to the fullest. I cannot wait to read your book, and will be purchasing it this week on the way back from my rheumatologist appointment. Thank You again! Karen
I just ordered your book online today! I look forward to reading it!!!Cheers, Joanie D~