A.S. Face 2197: Johnny

A.S. Face 2197: Johnny



My name is Brandi, and I wanted to share my father’s story.

This is my dad, Johnny. His symptoms came on suddenly when he was 17 years old. He was already a husband and father by that time (crazy, but true). It would be more than 10 years and countless doctors before he was diagnosed at 28. He worked construction and there were many injuries along the way. Injuries worsened by the AS. He had his first joint replacement before his 40th birthday. Many more followed. He struggled with the pain and the need to provide for his family. He turned to illegal drugs that allowed him to do that. He eventually got clean and he lived with the daily, constant pain. As if that wasn’t enough, he carried guilt after my own diagnosis when I was 16.

He passed suddenly in January 2016 at 48 years old. He was a husband of 32 years, a father of 2, and grandfather of 6 (his pride and joy, by the way). He had accepted Jesus as his Savior years earlier so I KNOW that today he’s free from that bondage of pain.

Mississippi, United States of America

September 2, 1967 - January 7, 2016

A.S. Face 2115: Angela Hodges

A.S. Face 2115: Angela Hodges



My name is Angela Hodges. I am from Mississippi. I am 41 years old and I am a mom, daughter, sister, wife and I have AS.

Mississippi, United States of America

A.S. Face 2078: Selena Brownie

A.S. Face 2078: Selena Brownie



My name is Selena Brownie and I’m newly diagnosed with AS. I’ve been suffering for at least 15 years.  I’ve had two cervical spine surgeries most of my AS seems to be in my spine.

A.S. Face 1930: Tina Pinter Adcox

A.S. Face 1930: Tina Pinter Adcox



I’m AS diagnosed in 2015 by rheumatologist!!!

A.S. Face 1914: Sara

A.S. Face 1914: Sara



My name is Sara I am 27 years old and I am a single mother of 3 children ages 9, 7, and 8 months old. I was diagnosed in October 2017 with Ankylosing Spondylitis. I had been suffering for 12 years before finally being diagnosed.

A.S. Face 1853: Steven Estes

A.S. Face 1853: Steven Estes


Diagnosed at 30. Now 32. Symptoms first appeared in the 7th grade but always misdiagnosed.  Fusing to hips and parts of spine. I am currently on biologics.

A.S. Face 1656: Amanda Hamilton

A.S. Face 1656: Amanda Hamilton

A.S. Face 1538: Dana Baggett

A.S. Face 1538: Dana Baggett

Ankylosing Spondylitis has been a curse and also a blessing to me.

A.S. is a curse to me, because I know that this diease has no cure! It will be a life long battle of ups and downs. A roll coaster that I can never get off of, no matter how loud I scream. And you never know from one day to the next what your body will put you through.   And that’s just the physical aspect of the diease, nevermind the psychological toll it takes. I fight ever minute of my life to try to stay positive. But the pain can be so overwhelming at times.  And you feel so alone in this diease, because no one feels the pain you are experiencing.

A.S. has been a blessing to me, because I finally have an answer.  After 12 YEARS of countless doctors, specialist,  blood test, XRays, CT Scans  and so on. NO ONE CAUGHT IT.  Until I met this one amazing doctor.   She took one look at me and said something is wrong and I will find the answer.  It took three months of additional testing and referral to a rheumatologist and I finally had my answer: Ankylosing Spondylitis!   Even though it’s taken me time to process what all this means for my future, I finally feel like I can get back to some type of normal life or at least a life that dosen’t consist of me always searching for an answer. I can say I’m  now more present in my kids and husband’s life.  I appreciate the time we have together. And I see it as a blessing that I’m able to get out of bed everyday.

The saddest part about this diease is how unfamiliar doctors still are with it. I still see specialist today that will literally dismiss my A.S. as possible cause of issues other than in my spine.
Ankylosing spondylitis not only attacks the spine. It also attacks surrounding joints, liagments, tendons, cartilage,  and organs.  I personally see Ankylosing spondylitis as a Full Body Inflammatory Diease.

I am currently taking Humira Pen Injections 40mg twice monthly and daily dose of prednisone.   I have tried methotrexate,  steriod injection, steriod packs, NSAIDS, muscle relaxers. None have helped so far. I have been diagnosed with A.S., IBD, Pelvic Inflammatory Diease,  Endometriosis,  and IC of the bladder. I have sacraliliacist grade 4 on my right side.  Subluxation throughout the cervical/thoracic/ lumbar spine, and Clay Shoveler’s fracture in thoracic spine.

Dana Baggett
Olive Branch,  MS
30 years old; onset at age 17

Mississippi, United States of America

A.S. Face 1378: Andrew Blake Spain

A.S. Face 1378: Andrew Blake Spain

My name is Andrew Blake Spain, but my friends, family, and fiance call me Blake. I am 26 years old from Booneville, Mississippi, I have a wonderful fiance, Kaylee, who stays strong and fights with me through EVERYTHING, and I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in the Fall of 2012. My family own an incorporated farm, Spain Farms,Inc, and I have worked there since I was a young boy. Not only have I done every plowing, combining, and bush-hogging thing you can think of I also worked at an auto-mechanic shop and a for a moving company. My back problems started in early 2008 after an accident on the job. The pain never let up after that. The long, painful years leading up to 2012 I had numerous spinal blocks, shots, meds, shots, meds, shots and more meds. August of 2012 I finally had the “nightmare come alive thing.” I had a three-level posterior lumbar spinal fusion and stayed in the hospital for days. I have been to pain management, rheumatologist, surgeons and the nightmare carries on with me. Weeks after the horrific surgery, I was finally diagnosed with AS. I have tried everything from Humira, Lyrica, Pain Meds… Nothing stops. I now am about to set up an appointment for surgery on my neck because imaging has shown AS causing the vertebrae in my neck to fuse/lock together. Along with all the “joys” of AS, I also have had a hiatal hernia surgery and one more to come very soon. Though I fight through the struggles of AS it has not always been easy before the disease, I had an unimaginable childhood. I lost my hero and my best friend, my father David, in 1996 in a freak hunting accident which resulted in my mother physically and mentally abusing me for years, my sister was killed tragically by a drunken driver when she was only 13 years old and i was 6, my first cousin, whom was like the big brother I never had, also got killed very tragically in a car accident in 2010 when he was 28 and I 23. I have had a tough life. I’ve seen things no 8 year old should see. I have unimaginable, unbearable pain every waking moment of my entire life and the saddest part, it is probably never going to stop. My fiance and I pray everyday for those who have it and myself. I know first hand how tough it is and I pray for all of you innocent, good people who have to live a daily struggle, because you nor i deserve it. Hopefully, working together we can make a difference and make it known WORLDWIDE!! And last but not least, thank you Cookie, for all the wonderful, strong things you do for theses people! You my friend are making a difference!

Thank you guys for taking time and reading my story! God Bless! :)
Andrew Blake Spain
Booneville, Mississippi, United States of America
26 Yrs Old

 

A.S. Face 1342: Cindy Davis

A.S. Face 1342: Cindy Davis





I am 47 years old and was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis about a year ago. I find it encouraging reading all the stories and knowing I am not alone.



Mississippi, United States of America

A.S. Face 1306: Marlie

A.S. Face 1306: Marlie





My name is Marlie. I received my diagnosis on June 4, 2014.

A.S. Face 1271: Shelly Swinford

A.S. Face 1271: Shelly Swinford

My name is Shelly Swinford. I live in Mississippi and Im 41, I was diagnosed at 21. I am one of the luck ones that was diagnosed early. I struggle everyday of my life and have for a long time. Ive had a hip replacement already. I wish all of the Faces here a painless and energized day everyday. Loves and Hugs to all…

Mississippi, United States of America

A.S. Face 1046: Lidia

A.S. Face 1046: Lidia

I was diagnosed with AS and there is a low presence of lupas. I am afraid. Because i been in pain on and since the age of 22 i am now 39. In 2010 i was tying to get my life back working out and even went back to college but i started what appeared to be pain in my back and sides and was told on different visits i had back sprain, then i was told i had muscular skeleton fractures. Last november the pain came back in my neck and stayed a few months. This may i started having pain what appeared to be a crook but it could not be i thought because here it was 4 months later neck pain sometimes meds helped ease the pain but did not help it!  So far i am on tramadol and meloxicam. A few meds i cannot pronounce lol. Sometimes i dont even try to get to know my meds because lately its loke ill never know when that will change. I am afraid because i dont know any african americans with this. I dont know if one day will be a good from the next. I am 39 and reaching out for info love and support. Because in a small town with doctors who seem  to not care or care to find all resources sucks.
Mississippi, United States of America

A.S. Face 0910: Nicole Decell

A.S. Face 0910: Nicole Decell

You can’t see me,  when you look at me.
You don’t know me by merely passing by.
It takes a knowledge I don’t want you to know,
Because I know where you would have to go.
I’ve been there and will continue to survive,
But my pain is hidden in my eyes.
When I see pictures of myself I can see it.

I pray it is never revealed to you because then you would be feeling it.
Nicole Decell from Braxton Mississippi
Fighting auto-immunity my entire life currently AS, fibromyalgia & IC.

Mississippi, United States of America

A.S. Face 0387: Shane Lovelady

A.S. Face 0387: Shane Lovelady

My name is Julie Lovelady. I am 43 years old and live in Mississippi.  I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis about fourteen years ago.   My fifteen year old son, Shane Lovelady, was diagnosed with arthritis when he was 7 or 8 years old.  He is classified as having juvenile spondyloarthritis because of his age
Mississippi United States of America

A.S. Face 0375: Julie Lovelady

A.S. Face 0375: Julie Lovelady

My name is Julie Lovelady. I am 43 years old and live in Mississippi.  I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis about fourteen years ago.   My fifteen year old son, Shane Lovelady, was diagnosed with arthritis when he was 7 or 8 years old.  He is classified as having juvenile spondyloarthritis because of his age
Mississippi United States of America