Product Review

At 8:12 on a sunny, September morning my doctor's assistant called. "How far are you away from a hospital?" she asked. And so began what would ultimately be my life with Ankylosing Spondylitis, also known as AS...

AS literally impacts millions of American lives, yet is a disease very few people have heard of, let alone understand. Mention "cancer" to someone and they inevitably say, "Oh!" Say ”Ankylosing Spondylitis” to that same person and they'll say, “Huh?” While the lack of knowledge of AS is understandable, it leads to misunderstandings and, ultimately, frustrations for not only the millions of sufferers AS but their friends, family and acquaintances.

What follows is a brief journey through Ankylosing Spondylitis. It is intended for both the sufferers of AS and their loved ones, and is an abridged version of what I've experienced, what it is, what sufferers say and – ultimately – how it has made me a better person. It is a story of information, frustration and – ideally – hope.