Announcing the 2021 Patient Heroes
Ordinary people can become extraordinary in their journey through life — and this has never been truer than it is today. Look around and you’ll see that there are everyday heroes living among us. That’s why this Vasculitis Awareness Month, the VF will be highlighting a few of the many everyday heroes from our vasculitis community during our first-ever Patient Heroes project.
Earlier this year, we asked for patient hero nominations from the vasculitis community and we were overwhelmed with the number of people whose names were submitted. Judges from outside the vasculitis community chose 10 of the nominees’ personal stories that will be told through collectible baseball-type trading cards that will be used to increase awareness throughout the greater vasculitis community.
Patient Hero Stories: The Top 10
Ordinary People – Everyday Heroes. When faced with a diagnosis, the road ahead may look scary. But that’s when our vasculitis patients tap into their superpowers of strength, hope and resilience. Here are a few of the many stories from our everyday heroes whose positive attitude and determination to fight back against the disease is extraordinarily inspiring.
Patient Hero Stories: Honorable Mention
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes — some don’t even wear capes at all — but what they all have in common is a certain bravery and willingness to help others. Their end-goal is not just to overcome their disease but to make a difference in their community. This type of thinking is what gives people hope. Join us in celebrating all of the heroes in our lives.
Katrina Bargender
EGPA/Takayasu’s Arteritis – 2016
Keelin Basson
GPA – 2019
Kaley Beins
GPA – 2014
Colleen Brick
GPA – 2018
Richard Carney
GPA – 2012
Renee Depaoli
GPA – 2016
Tara Douglas
GPA – 2020
Brandon Hudgins
GPA – 2007/8
Gabriela Martinez
GPA – 2019
Ann Marie Niziolek
GPA – 2013
Sandy Nye
MPA – 2014
Cindy Orlandi
Takayasu Arteritis and Giant
Cell Arteritis – 2018
Grace Roach
Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis – 2019
Krista Vetter
Behçet’s Disease – 2013
Emma Wallace
AAV, Anca Associated
Vasculitis – 2019
Not pictured:
Ernestine Adkins-Stephenson
Darlene Almeida
Tara Douglas
Wilana Figueroa
Kristina Marzinzik
Ashley Paradiso
Zineb Sailouh
