Like so many others, Heather thought rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was a disease of old age, so when she was diagnosed at age 20 she thought she could take her time learning about it. "I could not have been more wrong," Heather adds. "Living with rheumatoid arthritis was challenging from the beginning, and I realized early on that I would need to develop a realistic way to do the things I loved while developing new interests to meet my physical needs." Time management soon became essential as Heather raised 3 young boys on her own while volunteering with the Arthritis Foundation and Special Olympics. She surprised even herself by also finding time to earn her BA in psychology at the University of Oregon at Bend. Heather will continue her education in criminal justice and behavior in a special online program at Tiffin University in Ohio, hoping to one day teach. Looking back, Heather admits that her accomplishments are impressive. "I have managed to keep my family a priority and pursued an education that often seemed unrealistic, all the while living with a chronic disease. But the most important thing my disease has taught me is that I have one life to live, and I need to live it to the fullest."