Have you, or a loved one, ever been faced with the reality of losing most and eventually all function in your hands? Have you been personally affected by Rheumatoid arthritis? At 27, my partner Tony Ferrer is having to cope with that crippling truth.

Tony F is the kind of fellow who just shines radiance into the room with laughter and jokes. Nothing seems to make them happier than seeing people laugh and smile. When that sparkle dims because of the pain due to swelling and chronic fatigue, it is difficult to not want to help lift them up. There’s a quote that Tony F. is often saying, a lyric from a song, that says ‘ignore the smoke and smile’ and that truly embodies how careful Tony is about hiding their pain. Everyone deserves the quality of life, and Tony F’s has been abysmal. They do not complain or put their trouble in anyone’s face -- they suffer quietly to not be a burden, even to us at home who love Tony F. dearly. To make matters worse, Tony F. lost their job due to absenteeism and steady decline in productivity directly related to chronic pain and fatigue, amongst increasing COVID-19 related lay-offs and quarantines in 2020. We have drained our savings and now we need help.

It started with a work injury at 21 that initially labeled Tony’s problem as tendonitis of the wrists. Given a brace and instructed to head back to work, Tony F. just pushed through the pain using way too many ibuprofen and sheer force of early-twenties will. Trouble was brewing, but Tony F. was convinced that repetitive stress injuries were just part of life. After all, it was ‘just’ tendonitis. Plenty of people live with that! Over the years, a similar thing would happen: wrists swell up like a balloon, get issued a steroid, go back to work. Rinse and repeat over and over. Years pass, things do not improve, but workplaces change to call center rather than a warehouse. Shows carpal tunnel/tendonitis type symptoms. Lowers availability and eventually loses job. Hands still hurt and swell regularly. The frequency of these occurrences increases by each month.
Then I get involved in Tony F’s life as their partner in 2017. I noticed something was very wrong. As an educator, it is in my nature to nurture and support. We ping-ponged through a variety of specialists who kept saying they were ‘too young’ at 25, 26, and now 27 to be experiencing symptoms like this. “It’s just tendonitis” and would give Prednisone and send us on our way. Flare-ups would happen, making Tony have what we refer to as ‘T-Rex’ arms like the tyrannosaurus rex--in an attempt to self-soothe, Tony would just tuck their arms in and try to get through the day looking like they smuggled eggs in their wrists. 

Finally, we got the formal diagnosis and it is definitely mixed emotions. Tony F is in Stage 2 of Rheumatoid arthritis and one of the joints is showing signs of Stage 3. This means there is severe damage to the cartilage pads around the small bones in their wrists and a pinky joint. There are also signs in both elbows and knees of RA inflammation. Tony also has 60% reduction of wrist flexion (range of motion) and struggles with simple tasks like gripping and twisting pens and pencils and even doorknobs. In lieu of surgery that will not give any range of motion back and might cause even more scar tissue, Tony F is trying to get on the list for Biologics and non-surgical, regenerative alternatives. Both of these are not covered fully or at all by insurance and tend to be automatically denied due to their ‘elective’ nature. I am not interested in having Tony F suffer any longer, so we are looking into physical therapy and occupational therapy routes in the meantime.
In addition to the medical expenses, we will be modifying the house to add handrails throughout the inside and replace the front wooden steps. We will also be getting a new mattress, a higher bedframe to help with climbing in and out of bed, a supportive mattress, and installing shelves so that Tony F. does not have to bend over or stoop in their room and bathroom. These vital adjustments mean Tony F gets to live as safely as possible in our house. I am looking to gift Tony F. quality of life via medical treatments that will ease the chronic pain and lift the ‘brain fog’ associated with being in constant pain, in addition to the renovations at home to help keep them safe while moving about the household.

Please consider donating what you can to help our cause, so that Tony F. can get back on track with their life and lessen their life of pain. Every cent will be used to improve Tony F's quality of life and allow us to accommodate the RA-lifestyle changes. 
Your love and generosity will ease some of the burdens that rest on the road ahead.  No contribution is too small and my family extends sincere thanks and appreciation for all who - already has, will, and may wish to contribute to Tony F's recovery and rehabilitation for Rheumatoid Arthritis and adapting our house to meet their needs.