February 14, 2023


Hi! Welcome to Not If But How. Living with AS ( Ankylosing Spondylitis)

This blog is dedicated to sharing what I have learned about living with AS.

My entire life has prepared me to overcome challenges that AS throws at you.  I didn't know my life was preparing me for this journey, but lo and behold, it did.

I grew up with an amazing Grandmother.  My Nana Mary was all of 5 feet tall ( with heels and her nose pointed towards the sky) and 112 pounds.  I grew up with this spit fire of a woman who was born in "put down 1912", almost completed her law degree, ran a dental office and raised 2 boys as a single mom.  The "put down" is a whole other story that I'll tell in a different post.

Nana Mary lost her husband George when her two boys ( my father and my uncle) were the tender ages of 15 and 17.  I just can't even imagine.  She was a beautiful and smart woman who had many men who absolutely wanted to marry her.  She wanted no part of it. Besides being smart she was incredibly well put together.  Even when we went to her house on Sunday morning for brunch, she'd have on a house coat, jewelry and full makeup.  Her nails were always done perfectly and  her index finger was adorned with a beautiful blue turquoise ring. 

After her husband George passed away she shared how she got through the most difficult time in her life.  She would get dressed, look in the mirror and point that perfectly manicured index finger with the blue ring , shake her arm that caused her bangles to jingle and say, "Mary Silverstein , you make it a great day".

My incredible husband wasn't lucky enough to have met my grandmother, but he sure heard the stories of her tenacity.

As I leave for work each day my husband says, "Make it a great day".  And I do.

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