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in your
journey with
Rheumatoid Arthritis

Encouragement, resources, and a community that provides support as you navigate life with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

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A black and white picture of Ellen McDowell smiling, holding a baby.

Meet Ellen

Founder of Flare Family

ellenwitharthritis@gmail.com
Hey, my name is Ellen and I'm so glad you found Flare Family! Like many of you, the trajectory of my life was forever changed when I developed Rheumatoid Arthritis during my freshman year of college. Unable to attend classes and scared for my future, I dropped out and had to find a new path.

Over the last decade, I've learned how to advocate for myself and build a beautiful life while navigating the many challenges chronic illness brings.

Today, I'm passionate about educating, empowering, and encouraging others living with chronic illnesses. I currently run the TikTok and YouTube accounts @ellenwitharthritis, a community of over 20,000+ individuals. My aim is to simplify complex topics and describe the chronic illness experience in a way that deeply resonates with others.

Flare Family was a dream for a long time and I'm grateful that it's now a reality. Thanks for being here.

Blog

Advice & Tips on Living with Chronic Illness
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Educational Videos

The Latest from Ellen —
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Free Rheumatoid Arthritis Educational Downloads

Trying to explain what you're going through can be a headache. These free resources are available to print and share so the people in your life can better understand and support you.

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Your generosity fuels Flare Family

Flare Family is free to use and always will be. Your generosity fuels Flare Family and allows me to devote time, energy, and resources to this mission. Thank you for being here and thank you for being an advocate for chronically ill folks.