Keep educating yourself on this condition and try every way that you can to make your life worth living. 

At first, I had a really hard time opening up to people about my HS. I didn’t know how to describe it and I was terrified of judgment. Once I worked up the nerve, the response I received was amazing

I was thirty-nine and had just had my fifth child when my HS symptoms first appeared.

I have discussed my HS with all the people close to me. After thirty-three years, it is hard to hide it.

I just cry and let it out and then I pick myself up and I say “You got this, girl!”

My main way of trying to stay positive is being around the ones I love and talking about any problems I may be having. I’ve discussed my condition with quite a few people. The reason I do it is because I know that discussing my situation could help someone else and/or spread awareness.

I have always found writing to be very therapeutic and for that reason, I am drawn to it. It helped me to make sense of the many deep-rooted emotions I was feeling about HS. I wrote a book about my inner journey while I was going through it.

Even though HS is a horrid disease and I’d never wish it on anyone, it has given me the opportunity to turn pain into purpose, while making friends from across the country and around the world. I’d never want to change that.

I try not to let my HS bring me down but if I do need to deal with some negative feelings I will try talking with friends who support me and who understand what I am going through. I’ve talked to my family, friends and co- workers about my condition and they are all very supportive. 

One major HS Hero in my life is my husband. He has always cared about how I|'m feeling and helps make my life more enjoyable. My HS Heroes team would be some other heroes I know.