Michelle’s Story
Michelle was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in January 2015. She is the Adult Honoree for the Chicago Walk to Cure Arthritis.
Michelle Boston was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in January 2015. Prior to this diagnosis, Michelle had extreme pain in her larger joints, including hips, knees and shoulders. After numerous emergency room visits during her time as a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an emergency room doctor finally suggested consulting a rheumatologist.
After four years of pain, Michelle finally had an answer – psoriatic arthritis. As treatment started, the emergency room visits declined, and Michelle was on the hunt to find positive information about her new diagnosis. After stumbling upon the Arthritis Foundation website, Michelle decided to get involved and make a difference in any way she could. She created Team Boston and participated in the 2016 Walk to Cure Arthritis Chicago. Team Boston was one of the top 10 fundraisers that year.
In the summer of 2017, Michelle was a camp counselor for Camp JAM in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where she was able to serve as a role model for younger children also battling this invisible disease. In the summer of 2018, Michelle and her mother, Joanne, attended the JA Conference in Seattle where Michelle was able to learn more about how to lead a successful life with arthritis.
Michelle has now found the right treatment plan and continues to live her life as pain free as possible. She is a fifth and sixth grade teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. She loves to travel and has visited four of the seven continents. She also enjoys making homemade cards and reading for her book club.
After four years of pain, Michelle finally had an answer – psoriatic arthritis. As treatment started, the emergency room visits declined, and Michelle was on the hunt to find positive information about her new diagnosis. After stumbling upon the Arthritis Foundation website, Michelle decided to get involved and make a difference in any way she could. She created Team Boston and participated in the 2016 Walk to Cure Arthritis Chicago. Team Boston was one of the top 10 fundraisers that year.
In the summer of 2017, Michelle was a camp counselor for Camp JAM in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where she was able to serve as a role model for younger children also battling this invisible disease. In the summer of 2018, Michelle and her mother, Joanne, attended the JA Conference in Seattle where Michelle was able to learn more about how to lead a successful life with arthritis.
Michelle has now found the right treatment plan and continues to live her life as pain free as possible. She is a fifth and sixth grade teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. She loves to travel and has visited four of the seven continents. She also enjoys making homemade cards and reading for her book club.