Anna Gayla

It started maybe fifteen years ago, I woke up one morning with swollen and stiff joints and pain. It could not have come at a worse time, when my father was in New York getting treatment for cancer, and my family was pulling together to see him through this difficult time-- taking him to various doctors for tests, going back-and-forth to get all the paperwork signed, planning trips out of town to give him some relief from the day-to-day dreariness of cancer treatment. It was tough to get through each day with limited mobility and dealing with the pain. I did not expect the diagnosis at all: rheumatoid arthritis. I had always thought this was condition affected only the elderly, but soon I learned that that was not the case. I was referred to Dr. Jane Salmon at HSS. After my first visit with her, I already felt confident that I found the right doctor for me. Through a course of treatment that includes methotrexate and Remicade, my symptoms soon were under control. I feel like I got my life back -- no more pain when turning doorknobs, feeling the joy of taking the first steps in the morning with out any stiffness, having the ability to run after, play with and carry my then-toddler...things that most people take for granted but were milestones to me. I was even able to run the NYC Half Marathon (I did it, but will probably not do it again!). Today, my symptoms are very much under control, and I feel like I do not have any limitations as far as movement and physical activity is concerned. Most days, I feel like I never even had RA! I am most grateful to Dr. Salmon and to HSS for being with me all the way.