By Aurielle Karr

Aurielle Karr was diagnosed with SMS when she was 9 years old. Aurielle shares the story of her road with SMS so far:

I was diagnosed with SMS when I was nine years old. I had a great time in elementary school but when I reached middle school and high school I felt like no one cared about me being different and was being bullied. I tried to stand up for myself but that didn’t work. My adopted brother Kyle and his friend helped me and then I met a group of friends. Once I met those friends, it took so much stress off of me to know that I have such good friends still and that they protecting me because they know that they got my back and that I’m not alone and that they care about me. If they see someone make fun of me, they will stick up for me because they love me and they know that I have SMS.

In high school, I played on the golf team all four years and powder puff football my junior and senior years. I helped out with the girl’s basketball team and was the team manager for the Lady Highlanders which was so much fun! I also got to throw out the first pitch at a varsity baseball game for Lahabra High School!

I love sports. My favorite teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Dodgers, the Lakers, Clippers and Pistons, Los Angeles Sparks, Utah Utes, Washington Huskies, Oregon Ducks, USC, and Cal State Fullerton. I love sports a lot but I hate needles!

For more information about Rare Disease Day, visit https://rarediseases.org/rare-disease-day/