Glenview author on a mission to build awareness around the world on seriousness of arthritis
After being diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, Effie Koliopoulos could have allowed the disease to take over her life. Instead, she turned her pain into purpose through her arthritis advocacy efforts to address a disease that was unfamiliar to her until she was first diagnosed. In fact, nobody her age or in her family had encountered the disease.
To help ensure that others would not be caught unaware, she authored a very personal book: "Keeping it Real with Arthritis," in which Effie proposes that the lack of media attention/unmet needs/medical advancements impact ways that people of all ages are coping with arthritis. https://keepingitrealwitharthritisbook.com
Her book encapsulates stories from those living with arthritis and those who support them. To help raise awareness, educate and provide a resource for people and families. She went on a discovery mission to talk to 119 individuals worldwide living with arthritis and their supporters; parents, caretakers, and medical professionals and asked them to share their coping mechanisms.
Sufferers are faced with physical, mental health, financial, social life, and relationship challenges, and she hopes to spur more support for people suffering from arthritis by expanding the resources, awareness, education and overall support for sufferers and the medical community.
Effie's book is available on Amazon at: www.amazon.com/Keeping-Real-Arthritis-Stories-Around/dp/1946512710
Statistics show that arthritis is reported by at least 1 in 6 adults in every state, with women having the higher age-adjusted prevalence of arthritis than men in every state. In Illinois, about 16 percent of the state's population - nearly two million people - suffered from arthritis or other rheumatic conditions.
In her book, Effie includes medical providers, some of who ironically, live with rheumatoid arthritis and are rheumatologists. The book shows both perspectives the meaning if you do not respond well to one drug you have to move on to another. This is a major issue because while there any many options, arthritis is in all its forms a very individual disease and this book aims to shine a light on that via the stories presented.
Each of the stories in this book helps to pave the way for others by shining a light on both their triumphs and difficulties. But most importantly holding space for people to be heard, seen, and validated. 100% of the creator's author royalties is donated to the International Foundation for Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis; also known as AiArthritis (aiarthritis.org).
Effie has called on some medical resources to help her messaging, including Dr. Cuoghi Edens, University of Chicago Medicine, focusing on Adult and Pediatric Arthritis.
"It is my hope that this book will show not only how far we have come, but how much further we still need to go in providing ample resources, awareness, education, and overall support [to the arthritis community and supporters," according to Effie.
In addition to Amazon, her book is available from Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, ImagineWe Publishers, Goodreads and soon on Books-A-Million.
REMINDER: Arthritis Awareness Month is May, when various partners and organizations offer resources and information about arthritis, a disease that affects musculoskeletal health and impacts millions of adults and children in the US.