Nice to Meet You!

Life in North Star

Hello, my name is Becky Bensman. I am 45 years old and live in North Star, Ohio, a village of fewer than 300 people. Living in a small town has its trade-offs. The downside is that the nearest store is 20 miles away. The upside, however, is the incredible kindness; you can always count on a friendly smile and a warm "How are you doing?" when walking down the street. When I consider the traffic and impersonal attitude of larger cities, I know I’d rather be right here. This has been my home my entire life.

 

Finding a Purpose Online

When I first discovered that Google offered free blogs, I wondered, Would anyone actually be interested in what I have to say? I decided to give it a try regardless. I figured that perhaps my words could help someone else—or better yet, that someone else’s experiences might help me.

This led me to title my blog "Walking With God By My Side." As you can see from my photos, my body is "not normal," and I am the first to admit that. The "curves" I have are the result of living with Rheumatoid Arthritis since July 1970, when I was diagnosed at age nine.

My Journey with Faith and Health

I haven’t always handled my condition perfectly. As a child, I spent many days crying in frustration, asking, "Why me?" Even now, I struggle with the aches and pains of daily life. However, my perspective has matured.

If I could share one truth, it is this: I would not be walking today without my faith. God has guided me through every obstacle, including the discovery that nutrition and exercise make all the difference. When I tell friends that a healthy foundation is just as vital for arthritis as it is for diabetes or weight loss, they often look at me skeptically. But I have lived this truth for years, and I know it works.

 

The Early Years: Diagnosis and Struggles

My illness began after a family vacation to Wisconsin. My mother found a tick in my ear, and our family doctor initially diagnosed me with rheumatic fever. When antibiotics failed to help my stiff, swollen joints, my parents took me to Children’s Hospital in Columbus. There, a specialist diagnosed me with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

 

I was prescribed Cortisone, which made me feel much better but caused a devastating side effect: it suppressed my appetite. In three weeks, I dropped from a healthy 85 pounds to a "scrawny" 65 pounds. The doctor had to stop the medication, and I vividly remember the "withdrawal," pleading with my mother for the pills because they were the only things that took the pain away. It took over a year to regain that weight.

 

Surgeries and Setbacks

Between 1973 and 1978, I underwent various treatments, including gold injections that caused dangerous dizzy spells. Eventually, I turned to orthopedic surgery in Dayton:

• Left Hand (1975): The surgeon repaired my wrist and knuckles. While I cannot straighten my fingers, I can now close my hand. Though I am naturally right-handed, I became ambidextrous out of necessity and use this hand for my computer mouse.

• Right Hand (1976): My knuckles and joints were replaced with plastic and fused. Because my hand cannot open wide enough to hold a mouse, I use it primarily for writing.

• Knees and Hips (1978): By my junior year of high school, I could only stand for 30 seconds at a time. I had both knees replaced in June 1978. Unfortunately, due to the use of casts after surgery, my knees never regained their flexibility. In August, I had my right hip replaced with a steel joint.

 

Because my knees do not bend fully, I still cannot sit or stand from a standard chair. I rely on specialized equipment: a "dentist" style office chair, a raised commode, a lift chair in my living room, and a lift seat in the car.

 

The Turning Point: Nutrition

By 1979, I had been in a wheelchair for eighteen months. I graduated high school through tutoring, but the pain was too great to consider work or college. At the time, I didn't realize my diet of junk food was making my inflammation worse.

 

That May, my parents met a woman named Pat Kremer, who recommended a chiropractor, Dr. E.R. Shore. He told me that to feel better, I had to eliminate sugar, salt, white flour, pork, and preservatives. It was a massive change, but I stuck to it. Within three months, I was back on my feet and walking with crutches. Twenty-seven years later, that regimen remains the foundation of my life.

 

A World Opened by Technology

Computers have been my lifeline. From my first Commodore 64 in 1979 to the Mac mini I use today, technology has changed everything.

 

In my early twenties, my life revolved around watching four different soap operas a day; I was so engrossed in those fictional stories because my own life felt so limited. The internet changed that. It widened my vision, allowing me to research, learn, and stay connected with loved ones via email. I am so grateful for the people who continue to innovate—it has truly enriched my life tenfold.