We had the pleasure of meeting Krista in person last week at Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill! Krista is one of ten 2025 Rare Artist Awardee winners. She is a talented wood-burning artist, advocate, wife, and mom of two. Krista was diagnosed with Usher syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects her hearing and vision. Her vision loss, caused by retinitis pigmentosa, has narrowed her visual field from the typical 180° to just 5° of central vision. She wears hearing aids and uses a white cane daily to navigate independently!
“My art shares what it looks like to navigate life with dual sensory loss while still choosing creativity, connection, and joy. When I reflect on Rare Disease Month, it means visibility and research. It means community and advocacy. It means being seen, heard, and feeling worthy. I will continue to "wear my stripes" proudly!”
#RareDC2026 #RareDiseaseWeek #PatientWorthy #RareArtist
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