I was diagnosed in 1994 with a rare, chronic autoimmune illness--Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), following 4-5 years of progressing symptoms.  Having had SPS for most of my adult life, I have learned to live forward with humor, faith, & quirky creativity. With beneficial medication, an understanding of the syndrome, & how it personally affects me, I manage to live a quality of life with insatiable curiosity and a sense of adventure surrounded by my loved ones. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it is about learning to dance in the rain." May God bless.