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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, December 22, 2011 · 30 Health Award-winning youth deals with chronic illness By Nathan Howes OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF An Oakville woman hopes to eliminate the stigma behind hidden illnesses with InvisAbilities. Two years ago, Julie Harmgardt, 21, became ill after having corrective surgery for hip dysplasia, which can cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. The Queen's University student woke up one morning unable to get out of bed. The original hip pain had spread into every joint of her body. "I didn't know what to do, or where to turn. I went from being a vibrant, enthusiastic, on-the-go young woman... to pushing myself out the door, barely making it to my classes," said Harmgardt. "I didn't know what was going on. I was alone, afraid and living three hours away from home." As it turns out, the surgery put such a strain on her body that it brought out "this underlying condition," Harmgardt said. While being treated with heavy pain medications, she went from specialist to specialist for over a year. "Finally, I was diagnosed with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD), a form of rheumatic arthritis, in addition to hypothyroidism and hip dysplasia," she said. "In simple terms, UCTD is a type of connective tissue arthritis that is autoimmune in nature. "I'm always hesitant to say I'm on opioids and narcotics because I'm immediately judged as a junkie... It's really frustrating. I was once questioned at a pharmacy on the basis of my prescription -- it really stung," she "Although falling chronically ill was never part of my life plan, it has been a gift of sorts. My experience at Queen's pushed me to think beyond my university microcosm." Julie Harmgardt, Oakville resident Your Last Diet · Lose an avera age of 3-7 lbs/week · Great for men m and women · Primarily promo otes fat loss · Helps to mainta ain le ean muscle mass · Supports ce ellulite reduction · Promotes vi itality and energy · Naturally sup ppre esses appetite To learn mor more information nformation 44WELL (9355). 9355). please ema email info@acornhealth.ca nfo@acornhealth.ca or r call 905844WELL 250 Wyecroft Rd., Unit 15, Oakville, ON N Famil a ly Chiropr r actor/Acupuncturist www.acornhealth.ca Dr. r Jenna Davis a 905.844.WELL (9355) drdavis@acornhealth.ca said. The former T.A. Blakelock student was named an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year. She also won an Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers and earned a TD Canada Trust Community Leadership scholarship. Harmgardt was president of Blakelock High School's World Council, organized campaigns to Stop Violence Against Women and celebrate Black History Month. She led two fundraising drives for a school in India for HIVpositive children, and for Water for Humanity. HarmgardtalsoledTeensOrganizing Local Events for Seniors, a group that has presented more than two dozen variety shows at local seniors' residences. She also wrote a tribute book, raising $8,800 for Killbear Provincial Park on Georgian Bay. Living with an `invisible' illness, a frustrated Harmgardt learned to be her own advocate. But it wasn't easy -- she kept hearing comments like, "But you're always so happy, you can't be feeling that bad... You're too young to be sick," and, "Don't worry, I'm sure it'll get better soon." "I knew that I wasn't the only one dealing with these misconceptions on a daily basis. I began looking for a campus student-based group that could provide programs and services, but with a student/peer-based approach," FOOT CLINIC Hibbert & Associates Fa amily y Footcare and Orthotics 331 Sheddon Ave., Oakville · 905.815.0971 · w www www.oakvilleclinic.ca ww.oakvilleclinic ww.o w. .o oakvillec oakvilleclinic akvilleclini akvill ille eclini li ic NO REFERRALS NECESSARY · SATURDAY APPO O INTMENTS AVAILA AVAILABLE Take T k A Step in the h Right h Direction. V Visit a Chiropodist h d said Harmgardt. When she couldn't find any, she created InvisAbilities. The idea behind the support group is to change the conventional perceptions associated with hidden, chronic illness, she said, and to foster an environment of inclusion and awareness amongst the university community. Harmgardt started a variety of initiatives -- Invisible Disability Awareness Week, Buddy Program, InvisAble Yoga, Lending Library and discussion groups. The club gained 50 members in its first two years. "The university administration is extremely supportive of InvisAbilities. I was recently awarded the Steve Cutway Accessibility Award by the Principal of Queen's University for advancing disability-related initiatives and awareness on campus," said Harmgardt. "I largely concentrate on awareness, which in turn, transfers into support." Some examples of `invisible' illnesses include arthritis, Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, chronic migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, chronic asthma, and colitis, among others. When Harmgardt went public with InvisAbilities, she initially experienced some backlash from her peers, as there was a lot of confusion about her rapidly changing condition. "Most of my friends didn't understand how I was seemingly healthy one minute, and then bam, the next minute I was diagnosed with a lifelong condition. Most of my friends completely dropped out of my life at a time when I needed them most," said Harmgardt. "I don't know whether it was because they themselves didn't know what to do or say -- or if they just didn't want to deal with it. I really felt that I was being kicked when I was already so far down." But as time went on, so too, did the acceptance and support of InvisAbilities. Harmgardt said she receives e-mails daily from students wanting to get involved. Despite the progress Harmgardt has made with InvisAbilities, her health has not followed suit. She said her arthritis is unpredictable. s "Anything and everything can set me off -- the seasons changing, fall is the worst, humidity, t rain, snow, stress, etc. It always seems that just as r things are starting to turn around, something t new is thrown in my face," Harmgardt said. "For n example, I was recently diagnosed with hypothye roidism... another new thing to add to my growr ing list." i She said it's difficult to say whether some hidden illnesses can be cured, but the majority cand not. n "In my case, everything I have is here to stay for life. I'm still coming to terms with the fact f that I'll have to wake up every morning at 4 t (a.m.) to take a certain medication or that I'll ( never be able to go back to many of my favourite n sports again," said Harmgardt. Being in school full time while managing InvisAbilities has been challenging, Harmgardt admits. One of her biggest problems is being held back from her other responsibilities because of her dedication to InvisAbilities. "The balancing act for me doesn't just involve school, friends and extracurriculars. I also have to throw my health issues into the mix. There's a fine line to draw because all four things are tugging at me from four different angles," Harmgardt said. The other issue she contends with is cost. She currently has two drug plans -- one through her father's work and another through university. Last year, she maxed out both plans with prescriptions and treatments -- so the rest of her medications came at her own expense, she said. But luckily for Harmgardt, she has received some support from the university. "We were recently given a $4,000 grant by the university to further our disability initiatives. It's been a big help," said Harmgardt. Now in her fourth year at Queen's, studying French literature, Harmgardt plans on taking a break after graduation to re-group, professionally and physically. Her professional aspirations have changed since falling ill, she said. "I'm now interested in a career in the healthcare industry -- whether that be law, consulting or management. The gap year also comes from the fact that my doctor is very insistent on me taking some time to let my body rest," said Harmgardt. She is also looking to expand InvisAbilities to other college and university campuses in hopes to give students everywhere access to its services and programs. "Although falling chronically ill was never part of my life plan, it has been a gift of sorts. My experience at Queen's pushed me to think beyond my university microcosm." Harmgardt can be reached at jharmgardt@ gmail.com or visit the InvisAbilities' website http://invisabilities.org.