Meet A few of Our 2022 Content material Creators!

In 2022, the Social Well being Community partnered with a number of unbelievable affected person leaders to create impactful social media campaigns. As a part of this partnership, we wish to spotlight these superb people’ advocacy work.

Tanya Freirich, Lupus Affected person Chief

Tanya combines her ardour as a registered dietician nutritionist with advocating for lupus. Navigating her personal lupus analysis, she discovered that way of life and dietary modifications helped her handle the illness. Tanya loves connecting with others within the lupus group and offering schooling about dietary assist. She enjoys partaking in numerous methods by means of writing, talking, and social media.

Tanya says, “I hope to proceed to achieve the individuals which can be occupied with residing higher with lupus and assist them!” Tanya advocates as The Lupus Dietitian.

Web site: https://www.thelupusdietitian.com/
Instagram: @thelupusdietitian
Fb: https://www.fb.com/TheLupusDietitian
TikTok: @thelupusdietitian

Devin Garlit, A number of Sclerosis Affected person Chief

Devin was recognized with a number of sclerosis (MS) when he was in school. Devin was aware of MS, as his grandfather additionally lived with the illness. He had noticed the lack of expertise for MS earlier than his personal analysis. Devin sees his advocacy work as a means to assist others by sharing his story.

He lately collaborated with Marvel Comics on the Darkhawk comedian books, providing steerage on what life would seem like for a superhero with MS. He advised us, “I received to discuss my life with MS at the back of one of many points. That was an unbelievable alternative for me and everybody with MS.”

MultipleSclerosis.internet writings: https://multiplesclerosis.internet/creator/dev71

Natalie Hayden, Crohn’s Illness/Inflammatory Bowel Illness Affected person Chief

Natalie saved the primary 10 years of her Crohn’s analysis quiet earlier than getting into advocacy. She explains, “I made a decision it was time to open up and begin being vocal about my journey so I may make the expertise much less daunting and isolating for others.”

Navigating 3 pregnancies with Crohn’s, Natalie brings visibility and assist to others contemplating being pregnant and parenting with Crohn’s. She makes use of her journalism storytelling abilities to share her journey with others. She values the numerous connections she makes with the Crohn’s group by means of social media. Natalie advocates as Lights Digital camera Crohn’s.

InflammatoryBowelDisease.internet writings: https://inflammatoryboweldisease.internet/creator/natalieannhayden
Web site: https://lightscameracrohns.com/
Instagram: @natalieannhayden
Fb: https://www.fb.com/natalieasparacio/
Twitter: @nataliesparacio

Jenn Heater, Migraine Affected person Chief

When she left the workforce on account of her power migraine and trigeminal neuralgia, advocacy was a lifeline for Jenn. She discovered new alternatives and goal in serving to these with migraine really feel much less alone. Jenn often wears migraine-related shirts or buttons, which function dialog starters. She works as a volunteer with the publication “My Power Mind” and is concerned with RetreatMigraine.

Jenn isn’t afraid to be trustworthy about her illness and publicly acknowledge the unhealthy days. She says, “I’m not shy about posting how I really feel when I’m hurting – I feel it’s an necessary a part of advocacy. It’s okay to not really feel okay and present what power sickness actually seems to be like.” Jenn advocates as Chief Medical Oddity.

Weblog: https://medicallyodd.com/
Instagram: @chiefmedicaloddity
Fb: https://www.fb.com/MedicalOddity
Twitter: @medical_oddity

Linda Hoetger, Prostate Most cancers Affected person Chief

Linda’s life shifted when her husband acquired an aggressive prostate most cancers analysis. She went from being a spouse and mother to a spouse, mother, and caregiver. Linda felt shocked by her lack of expertise about prostate most cancers. She started her advocacy journey to assist increase consciousness.

Linda created Petey the Prostate, a mascot created from a walnut – the dimensions of a traditional prostate. Petey is a useful visible for discussing prostate most cancers. She and her husband lobbied Ohio lawmakers, and Ohio grew to become the primary state to provide ZERO The Finish of Prostate Most cancers license plates! She advises, “Converse out of your coronary heart about your journey.” Linda advocates as Petey the Prostate Crusader.

Weblog: http://peteytheprostatecrusader.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @peteysmom09
Fb: https://www.fb.com/linda.dickeyhoetger

Stephen Huff, Lung Most cancers Affected person Chief

Stephen was 29 when he was recognized with stage IV non-small cell lung most cancers. He found the neglect in lung most cancers schooling and consciousness as a result of notion that “smoking causes lung most cancers.” Stephen started his advocacy to alter that notion. His advocacy efforts led him to discovered a nonprofit, the Huff Mission, which helps to fund numerous lung most cancers initiatives.

In all his work, Stephen focuses on representing and empowering these with lung most cancers. For him, “beating most cancers isn’t essentially being cancer-free. It’s not letting most cancers steal any treasured moments.” Stephen advocates as The Huff Mission.

Web site: https://www.thehuffproject.org/#/
Instagram: @thehuffproject
Fb: https://www.fb.com/TheHuffProject
Twitter: @thehuffproject

Caroline Johnson, Metastatic Breast Most cancers Affected person Chief

Caroline was recognized with stage III breast most cancers earlier than her fortieth birthday. Already serving as an advocate for her son with particular wants, she translated these abilities to her personal well being journey.

After finishing most cancers therapies, Caroline based a nonprofit known as Twisted Pink. She wished to handle the gaps she noticed in analysis funding for metastatic breast most cancers (MBC). Twisted Pink helps to enhance entry to take care of MBC by means of schooling and advocacy. Caroline loves her advocacy work, because it provides her “a possibility to assist others and be taught from others as effectively.” Caroline advocates as Twisted Pink.

Web site: https://www.twistedpink.org/
Instagram: @twistedpinkorg
Fb: https://www.fb.com/twistedpinkcharity
Twitter: @curetwistedpink
TikTok: @twistedpinkorg

Maggie Kudirka, Metastatic Breast Most cancers Affected person Chief

Maggie was a 23-year-old ballerina with the Joffrey Live performance Group in NYC when she was recognized with stage IV MBC. She started her advocacy journey to assist others be taught extra about MBC. Maggie combines her love of ballet and advocacy, giving grasp ballet lessons and speaking to younger dancers about her journey with MBC. She has additionally participated in dance advantages and spoken on behalf of advocacy organizations.

Maggie affirms the significance of balancing advocacy with self-care. She says, “It may be exhausting to advocate, so it’s okay to take a step again and give attention to your self.” Maggie advocates as The Bald Ballerina.

Web site: https://www.baldballerina.org/
Instagram: @baldballerina
Fb: https://www.fb.com/BaldBallerina

Lisa Moran, Lung Most cancers Affected person Chief

Lisa’s lung most cancers analysis as a non-smoker opened her eyes to the misconceptions of the illness. After the preliminary shock of an inoperable, terminal stage IV lung most cancers analysis, she channeled her vitality into educating. Lisa writes and speaks about her journey with lung most cancers. She advocates on the native and nationwide ranges for expanded funding and consciousness.

If she may speak to herself on the time of analysis, she would share this knowledge: “It’s a day-to-day combat. However it should flip into month-to-month and year-to-year. Lengthy-term survival is feasible, and it’ll occur for you.” Lisa advocates as Peace Lungs and Happiness.

LungCancer.internet writings: https://lungcancer.internet/creator/lisamoran
Weblog: http://www.peacelungshappiness.org/
Instagram: @plh4lisa, @cookiedemartini
Fb: https://www.fb.com/lisa.stanafordmoran
Twitter: @plh4lisa
YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC6B56U8XtYOIzk0vvD6e8Bw

Randy Patrick, A number of Sclerosis Affected person Chief

Speaking with others was essentially the most useful factor for Randy after his MS analysis. Social media had a profound impact on Randy’s MS journey. Connecting and receiving assist from others helps to forestall loneliness and isolation. He sees his advocacy journey as “bringing the group collectively and making the affected person voices heard.” Randy advocates as Should Cease MS.

Instagram: @must_stop_ms
Fb: https://www.fb.com/MustStopMS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MustStopMS
TikTok: @muststopms

Weekly non-public group chat, Mondays at 7:00 PM EST:
https://www.fb.com/teams/813774555344665
or on Twitter utilizing #ChatMS

Susan Rahn, Metastatic Breast Most cancers Affected person Chief

Susan’s MBC analysis got here de novo, with metastasis to her ribs and backbone. Advocacy gave her a voice. She now writes and blogs throughout a number of platforms, serves on advocacy boards, and presents at conferences for MBC. She even had the chance to be a part of an advocacy story/video for Novartis, filmed in NYC.

Susan says, “I wish to know I helped make a distinction, that I channeled my anger and frustrations concerning this illness in a optimistic means that may assist these recognized lengthy after I’m gone.” Susan advocates as Stickit2Stage4.

AdvancedBreastCancer.internet writings: https://advancedbreastcancer.internet/creator/susanrahn
Web site: https://stickit2stage4.com/
Instagram: @stickit2stage4
Fb: https://www.fb.com/stickit2stage4
Twitter: @Stickit2Stage4

Rick Redner, Prostate Most cancers Affected person Chief

Following his analysis and profitable remedy of prostate most cancers, Rick and his spouse, Brenda, struggled of their marriage. He says, “The devastating high quality of life points following remedy for prostate most cancers are not often mentioned. Males and {couples} want assist!” This difficult interval after most cancers remedy grew to become the catalyst for his or her joint advocacy.

Collectively, Rick and Brenda co-authored two books about their journey: I Left My Prostate in San Francisco, The place’s Yours? and Every part You By no means Wished to Learn about Erectile Dysfunction and Penile Implants: Finish Your Silence, Disappointment, Struggling, and Disgrace.

Weblog: https://whereisyourprostate.blogspot.com

Fb:
#1. A Fb web page for pre & submit surgical procedure:
https://www.fb.com/pg/whereisyourprostate/about/

#2. A Fb web page for males contemplating penile implants:
https://www.fb.com/teams/penileimplants/?ref=share

#3. A Fb web page for people dealing with ED:
https://www.fb.com/teams/1183346195018101/

#4. A Fb web page for Christians dealing with most cancers:
https://www.fb.com/christianscopingwithcancer/

Boards:
Pre-surgery Discussion board:
https://presurgery.freeforums.internet/

Publish-surgery Discussion board:
https://postsurgery.freeforums.internet/

Candice “CJ” Walker, Sort 2 Diabetes Affected person Chief

CJ’s kind 2 diabetes analysis felt lonely and complicated. She lacked the sources to deal with this new actuality. She started her advocacy journey “to empower and encourage others on their power and autoimmune sickness journeys, so they might not need to undergo their journeys alone.”

CJ makes use of her love of writing to advocate for diabetes. Social media opened a world of prospects for partaking and sharing her story. CJ advocates as The Genetic Diabetic.

Type2Diabetes.com writings: https://type2diabetes.com/creator/thegeneticdiabetic
Weblog: https://thegeneticdiabeticblog.com/
Instagram: @thegeneticdiabeticblog
Fb: https://www.fb.com/geneticdiabetic