Connie was diagnosed with lupus and fibromyalgia in her early 20s, and experienced chronic pain and inflammation daily, along with many other symptoms. Both diagnoses were life-altering, forcing her to change her dreams of a career in travel. “I wanted to be a destination rep or work for an airline,” says Connie. “But I couldn’t even make plans for the day because I never knew how I was going to feel from one minute to the next.”
In addition to her lupus symptoms, Connie developed jaccoud's arthropathy (JA), a condition that causes severe joint deformities. "When I was first diagnosed with lupus, my hands were relatively straight, but over time, they began to disfigure and curl inward and the pain worsened,” recalls Connie. She fought to manage her symptoms with medication, but it always felt like something was missing. “I felt like I was existing, not living. I knew there had to be something more out there to help me.” After her multiple diagnoses, Connie shifted her focus to a career in the health and wellness sector. She was determined to find solutions and to learn and apply a holistic approach to healing herself while helping others.
Connecting with Arthritis Society Canada
Her journey with Arthritis Society Canada’s Arthritis Rehabilitation and Education Program (AREP) began more than 20 years ago when she met Mercedes, an occupational therapist who helped her understand her disease. Years later, as Connie’s condition deteriorated, they reconnected.
Connie faced constant pressure and pain in her fingers throughout the day, even with splints designed by her occupational therapist. While the splints were helpful, something more was needed to support her hands properly, with sturdiness and durability. After exploring options with organizations like the March of Dimes, they turned to Tetra, a nonprofit that partners with companies to create custom solutions for people with disabilities. Tetra connected them with Humber College’s Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation, which had the 3D printing technology to help. In a full-circle moment, Connie returned to Humber — where she studied travel and tourism 30 years earlier — this time to improve her quality of life through innovation.
A custom solution: 3D-printed splints
Within three months, Humber’s multifaceted team had created prototypes of 3D-printed splints that were comfortable and functional. They were enthusiastic and dedicated to finding a solution for Connie, tweaking and adjusting the splints until they were perfect. The new splints assisted and transformed Connie’s daily life, relieving the pressure in her hands and allowing them to relax and function more easily. Connie now uses them every night, and for a wide range of activities like grocery shopping or chopping veggies and cooking.
The customized splints created through this collaboration between Humber College and Arthritis Society Canada have improved Connie’s quality of life, allowing her to thrive in ways she never imagined.
“But it’s not just one thing that helps — it’s a combination of factors that create a unique formula for success,” she explains. She fuels her body with healthy foods, stays active through a variety of physical activities and embraces a holistic approach to wellness. “For me, it’s about health, nutrition, and all it encompasses. It’s working with AREP and Arthritis Society Canada, integrating both eastern and western medicine in a balanced approach, and embracing technology. It’s about using the incredible resources available, learning from one another and helping each other.”
Reflecting on her journey, Connie shares a powerful message of hope: “There were moments of hopelessness when I felt discouraged, depressed and heartbroken because I could no longer take part in the activities I used to enjoy. Even when I tried, I was unsuccessful, and it was crushing to the core. But I’ve always believed in staying positive, persevering and never giving up. If there’s something you can’t do, focus on what you can do. They say you only live once, but really, you die once and live every day. So why not live it to the fullest and the best of your ability? Do what you can to help yourself feel better now...not tomorrow, but now. Go for it!”