MyoCon! September 24–27, 2026.
Finding Strength in the Little Things
By Natalia Chmielewska
I live in Poland and work as a scrub nurse in the operating room. Before my diagnosis, I never imagined how much my life could change.
My first symptoms were joint pain and stiffness, along with muscle problems. At first, the symptoms didn’t all appear at once. They came one after another, which made it difficult to understand what was happening to my body. It took about a year and a half before I finally received an accurate diagnosis of antisynthetase syndrome.
During that time, I suffered a lot. I didn’t have the strength for anything, whether it was going to work or spending time with friends and family. I lived in constant pain, and I kept searching for answers.
Fortunately, I wasn’t alone. My family and my best friends and especially my husband Michał were very supportive and helpful. They all could see that I was suffering and that I was trying to find the cause of my health problems. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to undertake the intense treatment protocol and recover. Their support meant a great deal to me during some very difficult days.
When I finally found the right medical team, they ran many tests and quickly started a treatment plan that worked. The treatment repaired damage in my lungs, and my muscles improved significantly. Seeing those improvements gave me hope and reminded me that progress is possible, even when the road feels long.
One thing I wish every medical student knew about myositis is that symptoms do not always appear all at once. They can develop gradually, making diagnosis more challenging. I also think it’s important to remember that even a young person can become seriously ill.
I am grateful to The Myositis Association for giving me the opportunity to attend MyoCon 2026. Receiving a scholarship to attend the conference will allow me to learn more about my disease and connect with others who understand what it’s like to live with myositis.
One of the most important lessons I have learned is to take things slowly and not give up. Living with myositis means taking care of yourself and not worrying so much about what other people think.
To anyone else on this journey, I want you to know that life is beautiful, even with a chronic illness. We have to learn to notice the little things that give us the strength to keep fighting. Those moments of joy, hope, and connection can make all the difference.
Natalia Chmielewska lives in Skierniewice, Poland and is excited to attend MyoCon: TMA’s Global Myositis Patient Conference in St. Louis on September 24-27.
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