Deborah Moses
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Adult Honoree
 Entrepreneur, group fitness instructor, speaker, and community volunteer. This is Deborah Moses, who also has lived with multiple auto-immune conditions for almost 40 years - Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and Raynaud’s, a combination in the 1980’s perceived as “an old person’s disease” and “all in your head.”
The challenges and stress of pursuing a path in corporate America and breaking the glass ceiling, took its toll both physically and emotionally; with a cocktail of medications to manage the daily pain and additional diagnoses, eventually leaving her career to heal and wondering if she would be able to have a full, active life again. Learn more about Deborah and join or support her here. |
Lily Meierhoefer is 17 years old and lives in Washington, D.C. with her parents, siblings and two dogs. Lily was diagnosed with juvenile polyarticular idiopathic arthritis when she was 11 years old after complaining about finger pain. Her arthritis has been well controlled despite challenges in treating her TMJ joint, which she recently had jaw surgery for. Lily is a Junior Ambassador and Youth Advocate with the Arthritis Foundation, she enjoys meeting new people and using her voice and her story to advocate for change. Lily founded the Instagram account Kids Get Arthritis Too (@kidsgetarthritistoo_), she creates engaging posts and resources to raise awareness about juvenile arthritis and cultivates a community. A student at Holton-Arms in Bethesda, MD, Lily plays field and ice hockey, writes for the school newspaper and enjoys taking advantage of unique opportunities.
Spread the Word!