As we all know, RA as a disease has been suffering from a major publicity crisis. I’ve been writing about it here on my blog and over at MyRACentral.com, and many of you have been writing right back. I think we are all in agreement that RA needs some critical PR attention and a makeover…. and that’s exactly what I hope the mini-documentary I just shot will do.
About a month ago, I got an email from a producer working with WebMD. He told me that they were shooting a series of short documentaries about people living with RA, and would I be interested in being a part of it? Boy, was I.
We talked, but after our initial conversation, I left to go to Austria, and by the time I got back, it seemed that it might not work out for them timing-wise. Luckily for me, the winds changed and the producer contacted me again about two weeks ago to tell me that they wanted to go ahead and schedule the shoot to happen.
So this weekend, my apartment was transformed into a mini-set, and I was transformed into a temporary reality TV star (or at least, that’s what it felt like.)
The producer and the crew (who were all really great and tons of fun) arrived at my apartment yesterday afternoon to follow me around on a ‘typical’ day. This particular typical day was going to show me shopping and getting ready for another cocktail party and night out with some good friends of mine. In no time at all, I found myself walking out of my apartment and into Manhattan with an entourage of three in tow. And then I found myself walking out of my apartment and into Manhattan with an entourage of three in tow a few more times as they needed to capture certain shots along the way. You’ve heard it before, but now you’ll hear it here; reality TV isn’t real.
We got on the subway and headed down to the greenmarket at Union Square – one of my favorite places in the city – to get some food and wine for the evening’s festivities. The idea was to show how doing normal, every day activities is more challenging now that I have RA. It’s also more challenging when you have to do it all on camera and try and look normal. I had my handy-dandy little cart with me to help carry all the groceries, and some dormant acting skills from majoring in theater during college to help me pull off the rest. Once we loaded up and got the shots they needed, we headed back uptown.
The rest of the night unfolded and was lots of fun despite being under the microscope. I’m not going to give away the whole night here, but suffice it to say that you definitely get better treatment at bars in New York City when you have a camera crew following you around. You also get some stares and people craning their necks to see if any of you might be famous. Sadly for them, it was just little unknown me.
This morning, I woke up early to let one of the producers and the crew in so they could shoot an interview with me. My apartment was transformed even more, with bright lights and sound equipment set up all over the place. (Talk about a crowded house – all those people and all that equipment in my tiny little studio apartment made for one cramped space.)
Once they were done setting everything up, we went through the interview, which was basically me talking about what it is like to be young, single and living in New York City with RA. I think it went pretty well, and I’m definitely excited to see how things will turn out once they are done with the editing. I’m hoping that maybe, since this is being shot for the web instead of the big screen, that the camera will only add five pounds instead of ten. But either way, I’m thrilled that RA is finally getting some attention and, most importantly, that a range of stories is being included in the series.
Who knows – maybe this will be just the beginning!
How exciting! I can't wait to see what they come up with.
Let us know when it's available to watch, please!
Posted by: Melissa | March 08, 2009 at 04:22 PM
Great post...& I LOVE the title!
Posted by: millicent | March 08, 2009 at 05:28 PM
do they want to come film my foot surgery tomorrow? i think it'd make a super reality bit, "the slice and dice of RA" hehe. thanks for the post, keep rockin' it!
Posted by: sarah | March 09, 2009 at 01:43 AM
I think arthritis in general needs a makeover to the public eye. Awhile back, I had contacted the Arthritis Foundation on their lack of information for college aged people and young adults with arthritis. This was like in July, when they replied immediately saying they would work on it....I have since re-emailed them a few times, and there has been no response. There is nothing out there to help me with going to college, being a young adult, who just happens to have arthritis. Their website is totally geared towards kids up to the age of 18, and anyone else over the age of 40.
Posted by: Britta | March 09, 2009 at 03:15 PM
How cool. I can't wait to see it.
Posted by: liz | March 09, 2009 at 06:08 PM
Congrats Sara! I, too, am looking forward to seeing it so please keep us posted!
Posted by: MER | March 10, 2009 at 02:06 AM
HI Sara,
This is my first comment on your site. :)
I thought I had RA, but after testing the doc thinks it's osteoarthritis. Even though we've emailed I thought I would share this about myself for folks who are regulars here at your site.
I'm an 'oldie' with arthritis. (age 51)
I give you and ALL the young ones so much props.!!!
THANK GOODNESS there is an internet for gatherings in this way to support one another. In years gone by, folks just suffered alone. AND I'm sure many do who don't think to even seek out online support.
I hunted around WebMD and located this link to their RA-TV :)
I bet this is where you will be featured.
http://tinyurl.com/RA-TV-WEBMD
xo xo
Deb
Posted by: Debra Estep | March 10, 2009 at 05:13 PM
Thanks for that link, Deb. I've added it to my favorites so that when Sara's episode is shown I'll be ready!It has lots of great info.
Posted by: millicent | March 10, 2009 at 07:41 PM
If the episode is as informative and funny as this post, it'll be well worth seeing! Do let us know when it's up.
Posted by: Penguin | March 11, 2009 at 04:32 PM
I love, love, love your blog! I was diagnosed at the age of 15 and I'm now almost 24. I have just devoured every post and I am thrilled that someone else out there knows how I feel! I've been searching for so long. I've tried everything, been through everything, and I feel I've missed out on so much of my life. I just enjoy your humor to it and I've been making my fiance read it so he understands me better. Thanks for doing this! I'm a faithful reader now... :] Best to you!
Posted by: Michelle | March 12, 2009 at 06:25 PM
Melissa-I know, it is exciting! Who would have thunk it. will definitely let everyone know.
Sarah-eek, hope your foot surgery went ok-actually, better than ok.
Britta- I totally agree. I haven't spent much time on the AF website because it took me about 2 seconds to discern that it had almost nothing to do with me and my experience of RA. I don't get it.
Liz & Mer: thanks!! I can't wait to see it and share it!
Hey Deb-you are right-that's the link. They just launched it a few days ago, so we'll have to keep checking it out-they have done a lot of segments already. how cool-RA TV....
Penguin-thanks! Hopefully it will be....
Michelle- wow, thank you! I"m glad that you found me and left a comment so that I know about you, too! You are a veteran compared to me, as are many others, but thank god we can find each other online now and stick together. glad to find you.
Posted by: Sara | March 12, 2009 at 06:57 PM
Dear Sara,
First, let me say you have very cute feet, just an observation. Then if I could give you a thumb nail sketch of where naturopathic medicine sees RA coming from. Autoimmune diseases are interesting, there are aprox 80 to 100 with another 40 waiting for a name. Medical science cannot explain why and has not found a cure for even one. You can trigger one of them just by having an a car accident taking an aspirin or by starting a new exercise routine says latest research. Naturopathic medicine says, "Look for the root, it is in the basics beginning with what is on your fork, what toxins are in your body, what exercise do you do, what stress is in your life, what is your spiritual base". Our arrogance has led us down the wrong path we better stop and take a close look at what is happening. Autoimmune disease is the worst kind of contradiction; for an RA your immune system is attacking you in your own joints, a world upside down. God bless you in your search.
Sincerely
Paul
Posted by: Paul Blake ND | March 13, 2009 at 03:58 AM
OMG, Sara! I just watched your videos and it so spoke to me in so many ways: (1) you look like a cuter, younger Miranda from "Sex & the City"; (2) you live in NYC and you talk about the "rush, rush" factor, (3) the commuting/shopping via subways, the list goes on and on...
I've already emailed this to so many people!!!
Thank you.
Posted by: Cindy Martin | December 30, 2010 at 11:18 PM