Tequila Mockingbird wants to “drag” arthritis out of the closet to show the autoimmune disease doesn’t discriminate – not against age, gender, race or sexuality.
The drag queen, who’s also the poster girl for the Arthritis Society, B.C. & Yukon Division’s upcoming Jingle Bell Walk & Run for Arthritis at the Quay, was diagnosed 14 years ago while in her 30s.
Mockingbird told the Record she first started to notice some pain in her right knee after one of her routine runs (she had been training to become a police officer).
“I kind of was like, whatever. Then I found it was getting worse,” she said. “Then one day I was going to walk home and I’m like, I can’t … I was in so much pain.”
Despite the flare-ups, the New West resident continued to push through. But her day job soon became unbearable.
“Getting in and out of the van if I had to go pick stuff up was harder and harder. I would drive for a bit and then I wouldn’t be able to get out,” she recalled.
The pain then spread to her hip and, eventually, her lower right side.
A visit to the doctor shortly after confirmed Mockingbird had rheumatoid arthritis, which causes chronic inflammation to many joints in the body.
“He said, ‘You know, I think you’ve got arthritis.’ I said, ‘I don’t want you to diagnose it because if you do, it’s going to screw up my (police) application.”
It wasn’t immediately addressed at that appointment, but once Mockingbird paid another visit, she knew something had to change.
“I went to stand up to walk into his office and I fell into the reception table. I was like, OK, I guess it’s time to get this figured out. In a sense, it was a relief to finally know because it could be treated and I understood why I was in pain,” she explained, adding she never in her life thought this was in her cards.
“There is a stereotype that it affects only old people. That’s one reason why we’re trying to get the word out there, that it can affect anybody.”
Mockingbird said her message in all this is to look at people a little bit differently.
“Somebody’s standing on the SkyTrain, or even sitting in one of the disability seats and they look healthy. Automatically you want to go, ‘You jerk, you should get out of that chair and leave it for somebody that’s disabled,’” she said. “I’ve been in that position as the person who’s actually disabled in that chair feeling like people are looking at me like I should get up. … Just be aware that there are people out there that you might not have any idea are going through some painful challenge every day.”
There are more than 100 types of arthritis (like gout and lupus), and more than 650,000 people in B.C. have some form of it or another, according to Carrie Gadsby, manager of communications for the B.C. & Yukon Division. Meanwhile, three in five people with arthritis are working age, between the ages of 16 and 65.
“It’s absolutely the leading cause of disability in Canada,” Gadsby told the Record.
Earlier diagnosis, however, is important. People can start treatment at the onset, which can prevent progression, sometimes “pausing it.”
The eighth annual Jingle Bell Walk & Run for Arthritis at the Quay takes place on Sunday, Nov. 15. Registration starts at 9 a.m. with the event beginning at 10 a.m. All proceeds raised support arthritis research and education programs.
Attendees – including family pets – are encouraged to dress up in their finest holiday attire. There’s also an ugly sweater contest and pictures with Santa. After the quick jaunt around the Quay, enjoy some hot chocolate, a costume contest and a silent auction.
As for Mockingbird, every day is a challenge – from gripping a computer mouse to lifting a coffee cup.
But with routine medication, exercise and avoiding stressful situations, things can be managed, she said.
Teaming up with the Arthritis Society has also helped fulfil her need to help people, a goal she previously had in mind when training to become a cop.
“For someone, an organization to just accept you at face value for who you are and just embrace you and go with it, it’s been amazing.”
