About
Hi, I’m Cheryl! I’m a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and an occupational therapist. I started a company called Arthritis Life to educate, empower and inspire people with arthritis and the providers who care for them. Additionally, I’m an Adjunct faculty member at an occupational therapy assistant program in the greater Seattle area.
I am also a freelance writer and educational consultant. I am available for commissioned writing projects and consult on educational materials on a freelance basis. If you are interested, contact me here.
I’m also a mom, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic illness patient, advocate for healthcare and education issues, volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation, board member of the Washington Occupational Therapy Association and Association of Washington Generals, and occasional swing dancer!
My overall life philosophy is to live my life with as much enthusiasm as I can muster, despite health issues or other barriers. I am also passionate about helping others transcend barriers in order to live their lives to the fullest, particularly in education and healthcare settings.
I started this blog in 2010 to share my miscellaneous thoughts. Today, it’s mostly focused on occupational therapy and strategies for living a full life with rheumatoid arthritis, with some other topics sprinkled in for good measure.
I can also be found in the following places:
Arthritis Life Website Instagram Twitter Arthritis Life Facebook Page LinkedIn Personal Facebook Page Tumblr
5 Comments
Kathleen Engel
Hi Cheryl:
My name is Kathleen Engel and I am an editor at Health Monitor Network in Montvale, NJ. My company publishes guides on various health conditions that are distributed free to patients through doctors’ offices.
Right now I’m at work on the next issue of our RA guide and came across your site and story. Cheryl, I’d be thrilled to interview you for the next issue and provide readers with your OT tips for managing at home with RA. You have so many tips on your site already!
I’d be happy to send you a PDF of our last issue so you can see what our guides look like before deciding whether you’d like to participate. Just email me at my work address and I’ll do that!
And if you’re willing to be interviewed, please let me know a couple of days/times that work for you. I’ll write back to confirm. I might need 45 minutes over the phone.
Thanks, Cheryl!
Kathleen Engel
Senior Editor, Health Monitor Network
KathleenE@healthmonitor com
Rick Phillips
Hi Cheryl:
I want to let you know, that I opened a survey this afternoon for RABlog week 2016. I hope you will drop by and answer a few questions about Blog week so I can do some planning. The survey link is:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QY52KKP
Rick Phillips
Laurie Reed
Dear Cheryl,
Thanks for your reply. My favorite part of work is meeting so many wonderful people that I probably would not have met otherwise. Your blog offers so much useful and practical information in a fun and endearing way. Thanks for opening your blog to my patients and website viewers. I will send you the web address as soon as it goes online.
My best to you and yours,
Laurie
Laurie Reed
Hi Cheryl!
Just discovered your blog via OT Practice article. Love it–and you, already. I am an OT in private practice focusing on rheumatoid diseases in Eugene, OR. Would you consider allowing me to link to your blog via my website so folks here can benefit from your knowledge and enthusiasm?
Kudos to you!
Laurie Reed, M.S., OTR/L
ArthritisTherapyCenter@comcast.net
Cheryl Crow
Hi Laurie,
What an amazing service you provide to people with rheumatoid diseases, I would love to hear more about your work! You are definitely welcome to link to my blog on your site, I am honored that you would consider that! There is such a need for OT for persons with rheumatoid diseases, thank you for providing this service!
-Cheryl