‘I love my life - the arthritis is just part of it’

COURAGEOUS Anna Nolan was smiling through her pain yesterday.

Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at the age of two, the Dundalk woman never let it beat her. “I’m over the worst part at the moment, the fevers and all that,” the 22-year-old said.

An estimated 40,000 Irish people have the condition, typified by ongoing pain and difficulties with mobility. “Right now, I’m unable to work or anything like that until I can get my body back to strength.”