My Story:

In April 2024, I was diagnosed with Dermatomyositis. It was quite a big shock to me, and to be honest, I never thought that one day I’d have an autoimmune disease. My muscles were inflamed, and I had serious issues with my skin. I couldn’t walk, sleep, or even grab a spoon to eat with. My mental health was affected as well. I was very desperate, but at the same time, I understood one thing: I needed to fight to win against this awful illness.

What is Dermatomyositis?

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a disease that causes chronic muscle inflammation and weakness. It’s very rare, with around 9 in every 1,000,000 people developing it each year. There’s no cure for dermatomyositis, but treatment can improve the skin and muscle strength and function.

When I was discharged from the hospital after 17 long days, I couldn’t walk. I decided to rebuild myself. I started physiotherapy and began walking a little bit every day. I worked so hard, and luckily, weeks later, I was able to walk 5K a day. I can’t be thankful enough for my family, friends, and colleagues’ support at Brooke Weston Academy in Corby during these times and even now.

I don’t feel 100% well yet, but I decided to walk 3-5K every day with my sausage dog, Steven, for a month to support The Wren Project. (Steven just told me that he can’t promise you these 5K every day – he said that his legs are too short for this! – but he will join me as much as possible! :) ) The Wren Project exists to bridge the gap between a life-changing autoimmune disease diagnosis and access to mental health support. Founded by people living with autoimmune diseases, they understand the huge impact a diagnosis has on mental and emotional health. They are helping me as well, and I am so thankful for that.

Steven and I will be very grateful if you can support The Wren Project – ONLY if you can! I will post photos and update you all during these 30 days. We will start walking on the 1st of October 2024 until the 31st of October 2024. Sharing my page will be an amazing help too!

Thank you so much for your support!

Aniko and Steven