A.S. Face 0967: Ashley Romereim

A.S. Face 0967: Ashley Romereim

I was diagnosed with AS at 16. (I’m currently 25.) My grandfather had it, my father has it, and my younger sister has it. She was diagnosed at the ripe old age of 13. It’s made life hard, but I’ve finally been able to get back to work at a high school as a para full time, and I go to school full time for my education degree. I had a few years where I was completely unable to do anything–I felt like a zombie. But I got up, got things turned around, and now I power through the pain. Don’t get me wrong, I complain. Who doesn’t? Sometimes, just someone to listen helps with dealing with this disease. But I’m fortunate to have an incredible rheumatologist and amazing nurses, a very supportive family, wonderful friends, and a loving, caring boyfriend who helps me through every little bump and mishap. It’s been a long, hard road, but I have such a support center that I have nothing to fear. I’m a face of Ankylosing Spondylitis!
Kansas, United States of America