I am struggling with the thought that Christmas is going to be so hard for me this year. Due to Covid and needing a steroid injection and increases in my medication this week, I will need to continue to shield. No going out, Christmas completely on my own. This is how Christmas will be for so many of us this year. Without NRAS I would not have felt confident in being as honest as I have been and been able to make informed choices about treatments being offered to me. Being diagnosed with RA in July 2019 was life-changing. I did not appreciate how life-changing it would be at the time. These last ten months have been incredibly difficult as my RA continues to progress. This was impacted on greatly as Covid arrived. Having the continuous support of NRAS is helping me through each day and each new challenge it brings. The daily struggles of living with RA and the practical and emotional impact of it whilst living on my own and needing to shield has been difficult. Trying to continue work from home, and the challenges this brings with active RA too. NRAS has continued to be a lifeline for me. The weekly and monthly webinars from NRAS has provided us with all the latest and up to date information relating to Covid and rheumatology services, easing that isolation."