A.S. Face 2228: Kathleen

 A.S. Face 2228: Kathleen

My name is Kathleen, I am from Washington state, and I have AS. Everyone’s journey is different, and that’s okay. A few years after having my daughter at 31, I started having terrible pains in my mid back. It felt like someone took a sword and pushed it through my back out through my chest. I was training for my 3rd half marathon and thought I had pulled a muscle or something worse. A year later, after multiple doctors throwing everything at the proverbial wall and seeing what sticks did I finally had a Rheumatologist tell me that I had AS.

I went through years of mourning for who I was before AS. Biologics have given me my life back, and I have learned over the past 12 years to find alternatives to things I love. Instead of running, I hike-and WOW, have I found some gorgeous places. This picture is of me hiking in the Olympic National Forest. Some days are worse than others, but I have a wonderful family who supports me and cheers me on no matter what.

You may only be one person to the world, but you may also be the world to one person

Washington, United States of America

A.S. Face 2108: Andrea Holmes

A.S. Face 2108: Andrea Holmes

A.S. Face 2107: Kelli Begeman

A.S. Face 2107: Kelli Begeman

A.S. Face 2031: Brynn Freal Lawrence

A.S. Face 2031: Brynn Freal Lawrence



My name is Brynn Freal Lawrence and I’ve been battling AS for 25 years. It’s been a long and difficult struggle

A.S. Face 2022: Mary Carleton

A.S. Face 2022: Mary Carleton

A.S. Face 1981: Mick Glasser

A.S. Face 1981: Mick Glasser

A.S. Face 1951: Sara Walch

A.S. Face 1951: Sara Walch



My name is Sara Walch. I started showing symptoms of AS when I was 12, and it took until I was 18 to get diagnosed, because this is an adult man’s disease according to doctors. This photo was taken last year when I visited Olympia, WA to advocate to legislators on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Because AS takes away so much, but it will never take my voice.

A.S. Face 1949: Ameo Lynch

A.S. Face 1949: Ameo Lynch



My name is Ameo Lynch, 42 yo, from Washington State, USA. I was diagnosed with AS officially in 2014 after struggling with symptoms off and on starting around age 13. I was always athletic but my back and shoulders would cause problems frequently. The medical profession’s response was always “avoid stress and try physical therapy.” I was hit with another illness in Oct 2013 and diagnosed with Sarcoidosis 12/2/13. After treatment, my body was still an inflamed and painful mess. Finally after meeting with a rheumatologist I was diagnosed with AS around May 2014 (it’s all a blur). My life is nowhere near what I thought it would be. I have to plan my activities based on how I’m feeling and how much recovery is needed. I am not able to be as physically active as I’d like, if at all. However, in these last years of illness and discovery I have learned to let go of the little stuff. I do think I’m a stronger person emotionally, but I do miss having physical strength. My greatest fear is not knowing if this will surface in my children.

A.S. Face 1926: Christine Hicks

A.S. Face 1926: Christine Hicks



My name is Christine Hicks. I was diagnosed in my early 20’s and I’m now almost 56. My mother, sister and brother have also been diagnosed starting with my brother.

A.S. Face 1796: Suzanne

A.S. Face 1796: Suzanne

A.S. Face 1718: Rob Thompson

A.S. Face 1718: Rob Thompson

My name is Rob Thompson, I am 48 years old and have been fighting the disease since my late teens. I was diagnosed in 1998 after years of doctors being stumped. Ankylosing spondylitis is an ugly and cruel disease that shows no mercy. I work with my doctors to do what we can to fight it and I’m always up for trying new treatments no matter how far out there they are. I do my best to keep my spirits up and a good attitude. I think it helps me keep smiling through it all.

-Rob

Seattle, Washington

Washington, United States of America

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A.S. Face 1713: Brenda Hagfeldt

A.S. Face 1713: Brenda Hagfeldt

Diagnosed with AS 2013. Also have RA and fibromyalgia. Get remicade infusions every 5 weeks. Have had no break from symptoms. Glad to meet people that understand!

A.S. Face 1688: Christina Malcolm

A.S. Face 1688: Christina Malcolm

A.S. Face 1685: Maureen Lewison

A.S. Face 1685: Maureen Lewison

A.S. Face 1650: Kirsten Early

A.S. Face 1650: Kirsten Early

My name is Kirsten Early. I am now 55 years old and completely fused due to Ankylosing Spondylitis, save from some small movement in my neck. I spent three weeks in the San Francisco Spine Center for evaluation, diagnoses and treatment in 1984. At that time I was told I had a congenital spinal stenosis and several bulging discs. I was to think of my spine as a tree trunk and move without bending or twisting. If I didn’t get addicted to narcotics I’d eventually improve. I spent the following years in misery, taking 18 – 20 aspirin a day to try to function. My ribs became extremely painful and finding a way to relax and sleep was very challenging.
I took a fall after a snowstorm just before Christmas in 1990, I was 30, I caught myself on my hands in order to avoid hitting my tailbone. When I was able to start to function again I tried stretching and had the most painful spasms of my life. The next week I made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon for a consult to see if he could do something to make my life easier. He ordered a CAT scan and explained he could do nothing for me and referred me to a rheumatologist. I asked to see the scan and as we observed it he explained that my SI joints were completely fused and the rest of my spine looked like a 65 year old with advanced arthritis.
At my first rheumatology appointment I was informed that I was no longer 5’6, but closer to 5′ 2 and my ribs no longer moved. I was pretty shaken and each breath for the next few months felt claustrophobic. My doctor put me through trials of different NSAIDS and I finally settled on Naproxen. I was nursing a three month old so the few alternative medications were contraindicated. I didn’t see my rheumatologist consistently as we moved and at times had no insurance. In early 2001 I participated in a final double blind study for Enbrel as they sought approval to use it for Ankylosing Spondylitis. After they opened the medications to all the participants, I had the great benefit of being able to sleep better with less pain. At times I felt good enough that I didn’t need to take Vicodin or Aleve.
After ten years I started to have frequent upper respiratory infections that were difficult to shake. I had to stop taking the Enbrel and when I did take it I’d take called doses less frequently. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s two years ago and started taking Humira. I was told to stop taking Aleve. My AS symptoms were not treated as effectively with Humira, but it did control my sciatica. I now take Humira weekly to control my Crohn’s symptoms. I see a pain management doctor to control the AS pain somewhat. I had osteoporosis since my late 30’s. I believe I was initially misdiagnosed because I was a woman. If I’d been diagnosed correctly, maybe I would have fused straighter and been able to keep my ribs moving. In my case, not treating my pain affectively in the early years left me more disabled than if my pain had been controlled to enable to move my body.
If we don’t use it, we lose it.

A.S. Face 1640: Melanie

A.S. Face 1640: Melanie

My name is Melanie and I am from Seattle, WA. I am 26 years old and was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and mixed connective tissue disease in 2014, shortly after my 24th birthday. It has been the toughest 2 years since my diagnosis. My doctor and I have yet to come up with a proper treatment plan. I’ve tried Humira, but ended up being allergic. I’ve been on Cimzia for a few months, however, the pain is indifferent. I’ve always maintained an active and healthy lifestyle, but now, getting out of bed is the main struggle. I used to think that I was one of the very few battling an autoimmune disease (or three), but the power of social media has taught me that I’m not alone in this fight.
Washington, United States of America

A.S. Face 1583: Rhonda

A.S. Face 1583: Rhonda

A.S. Face 1491: Krista Adams

A.S. Face 1491: Krista Adams

My name is Krista Adams I Live in Marysville Washington and I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylosis three years ago I have had seven related surgeries in the last five years including fusing both my SI joints and my L5 to S1 and continual bone removal from excess bone growth. I used to be a hairstylist and unfortunately this has prevented me from being able to do that anymore. But I will not give up on having a fulfilling life!
Washington, United States of America

A.S. Face 1480: Bethany

A.S. Face 1480: Bethany

I have been looking for something like this because no one else I know has even heard of Ankylosing Spondilitis. I just got diagnosed with AS in November of last year after a 4 year struggle of trying to figure out what was the problem. It started out while i was in the marine corps and got medically separated because of it. Finally when i moved to Washington I had a doctor at the va who found out what was wrong at the age of 23. I actually have uveitis also which affects my eyes. I try to take everyday at a time and take it slowly. My goal is in September to do my first triathlon and to just get in better shape for my health. It’s awesome to find and hear the storys of other people struggling the same way I am.
Washington, United States of America

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A.S. Face 1437: Catherine Carow Seiller

A.S. Face 1437: Catherine Carow Seiller