Stephanie Marynus
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Adult Honoree
 Stephanie's rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis came in 2018, events leading up to her diagnosis are like most other autoimmune tales – fulfilling passions abruptly taken away by sudden, severe, and unaccountable pain. With a degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, the declining health made it clear the quick, repetitive motions required of an acupuncturist weren’t helping. Her and her partner decided to view his job opportunity as a sign to pivot westward. Now on the other side of that enduring flair, Stephanie is starting over. She is grateful to the Arthritis Foundation for providing a soft-landing spot of guidance, protection and community.
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Sarah is a teen who was diagnosed with polyarticular JIA in her sophomore year after experiencing unexplained severe swelling, pain, and stiffness in every joint. Due to the amount of inflammation, Sarah gave up her favorite sport, basketball, and instead, focused her energy on playing cello. Currently Sarah is a cellist in the San Diego Civic Youth Orchestra Symphony. Sarah loves school and will soon be studying biology with an emphasis in bioinformatics and genomics. Influenced by her RA journey and the help she has received from Dr. Chang and Rady’s, Sarah would like to pursue a career in medicine.