Knowing Your Soil...

10 years ago today, on March 11, 2013, I testified at the North Dakota State Capitol on a very important issue. It was all centered around my taking a biologic, which I started administering in 2001. It truly became a game changer in living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). 

I titled this planted blog post; "Knowing Your Soil" for several reasons. First, anytime you are planting your garden, you need to have some good soil underneath to help in building a firm foundation. If your soil is not healthy... then your garden certainly will not thrive. Second, we all have to start somewhere with anything that we want to build upon. Let me illustrate in the next paragraph. 

I was asked by the Global Healthy Living Foundation aka CreakyJoints, if I would be willing to share my story of taking a biologic. You see, there was Senate Measure 2190 that simply stated that if you were to go into your pharmacy and pick up your medication in my case the biologic, that my doctor and I would be notified in a reasonable amount of time of which one I would actually be receiving. Would it be the biologic or the biosimilar? Here is the tricky part, biosimilars (referred to as a generic component, but actually are not, yet are similar). A biologic is manufactured through a rigorous process, involving a protein, so replicating it to become a biosimilar is similar because it's interchangeable, but not actually considered a generic component. Are you confused? Allow me to help you sift through these complicated weeds in the next paragraph.

At the time that I testified, biosimilars for the type of biologic used for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) that I was administering were not out in the market yet in the United States. At the time of this writing, I am aware of one that is being used for infusions and that is the biosimilar, Inflectra for Remicade. There are others, but the one I previously mentioned is the one I'm aware of. This was all being put into place at the time I testified, so when the biosimilars were to hit the market there would be no unpleasant surprises for the patient. It was a way of protecting them. 

I had the opportunity to share my story of living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and what it was like to try different classes of medications, before I had a chance to try this life-changing medication. This process lasted almost 10 years. I testified on behalf of the Global Healthy Living Foundation's 50-State Network as a Super Advocate, representing North Dakota. What you didn't realize, was that my jaw was hurting so bad that day. It's from what I had placed around my jaw during the brain surgery. It really hurt right after that procedure and I was advised to put ice on it by the neurosurgeon. It happens to be Brain Injury Awareness Month and as you know, I live with an acquired brain injury; Frontal Lobe Syndrome. My PSA for spreading awareness on that. Another side note; None of these events would not have even taken place had it not been for my brain tumor experience. Let me expound in the next paragraph. 

Everything became much more meaningful to me. I started taking risks or chances. Nothing harmful only things I wanted to try or thought would be enjoyable. You never know unless you try. If you fail so what, at least you had the experience and who knows, it could end up being much more than you ever expected. In my case, it was! 

I am sharing a blog post from 2013; "A Legislative Tale" where my storyteller Trevor, explains the process and what happened that day. As a point of reference, North Dakota was the 1st of 6 states who had this legislation passed into law. I had help from a fellow advocate that day who lives with Type 1 Diabetes, Allen Todd, who himself takes a biologic which is insulin. We both made a difference that day. Telling your story is the first big step in building that foundation, cultivated by knowing your soil. 

Here is the link for the blog post mentioned up above.

https://brendasbrainstormandtrevor.blogspot.com/2017/05/a-legislative-tale_7.html

Now for the soil of this planted blog post, which will include my testimony I shared that day. It is 2 pages and I will share at the end. It happens to be Sunshine Saturday and I have a little exercise for you. What is something you are passionate about and how could you make a difference? Remember, it all has to start somewhere. Knowing your soil will help in building that firm foundation. Please feel free to share in the comments or reach out to me, with your answer. 

Until next time, Keep on Blooming and Happy Sunshine Saturday to all of my readers! ☀️

❤️ Brenda