My book Death by Rheumatoid Arthritis chronicles my Mothers’s medical and personal journey battling this disease.
A year after she began to have mysterious headaches, my mother was diagnosed with spinal cord syndrome. The RA had eroded part of the bones in her c1 and c2. Due to the instability of her neck, she was not a candidate for the life-saving surgery. Shortly after the late diagnosis, she went home to be with Jesus.
Celia Veno was a caring, compassionate, loving mother and friend.
My mother at age 14.
My mission is to promote MRI’s or neck x-rays for rheumatoid disease patients, especially if they are experiencing symptoms of neck instability.
One-hundred percent of royalties from Death by Rheumatoid Arthritis are donated to the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation. It’s the best site for RA patients to connect, find support, seek advice and receive compassion. I’m humbled and honored that Kelly Young O’Neill has appointed me to be a Partner and Advisory Board Member for this outstanding organization. For more on RPF go to rheum4us.org
*Digital artwork by Laura Gelsomini
Carla Jones 
Thank you, Carla Jones, for your book, DEATH BY RA. When someone has RA, they learn not to complain and obssess, even when in excruciating black-out pain. It is just their lot in life and they bear it. Especially today, with the opioid crackdown, those of us with RA get left to fend for ourselves. I bought your book and started to really think about the damage in my body. I have had this illness for almost 50 years. At age 64, I had my first back surgery, a lumbar fusion. I decided to retire from a long teaching career and recover. The surgery was a great success, but very soon I will have a cervical fusion to “uncrimp” my spinal cord and after that, I have been told I will need more surgeries to keep walking, talking, and to stay alive and out of a wheelchair. I do not think your book is overly dramatic or exaggerated in any way because, you see, it is “almost” my story, too. Thank you for this monument to your mother and to speaking out for all of us who suffer every day!
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Thank you, Helenrose for you, kind words and for buying my book to support my Mom’s story! I am so sorry you are dealing with similar complications from RA, however, like my Mom, you clearly have a great attitude and that makes all the difference in the world! I’m blessed and humbled to have the honor of giving RA patients a truthful account of what can happen for those with the disease, but the main theme of my book was to get out the message of hope through prevention. I’m glad that that message was passed along to you! I wish you all the very best with your upcoming surgeries. Thank you for sharing your story with me. It inspires and encourages me to keep pushing forward with reaching out to those who still don’t know how RA can affect ones’ spine. I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to contact me. It means more than you know. God bless you! xo
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