The View from a High Schooler

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a kid with a rare autoimmune disease? 

In this special episode, the host of The CARRA Podcast, who is a teenager living with a rare autoimmune disease, interviews another teenager who has a rare autoimmune disease about their experiences with school, sports, friends, and medical treatments. They also share their frustrations, hopes and new perspectives on life.

Spencer Ableman shares his journey with vasculitis, from a terrifying and unexpected health crisis to accepting this tough diagnosis and learning to embrace life with new challenges. Spencer, who has an incredibly optimistic outlook, has a story that is both informative and uplifting. 

Spencer shares his experiences on everything from competing in a cross-country race with a port in his chest to explaining his condition to other teenagers. It hasn’t been an easy path, but he has found some silver linings – from having insider knowledge in his AP Bio class to seeing his friends waiting at the finish line of his first cross-country race. 

 “Even though it may seem like you're in the dark there's a light at the end of the tunnel and you just got to keep your head up if you want to see it,” says Spencer.

These two remarkable teens, who met at CARRA’s Annual Scientific Meeting, discuss what research means to them and why they are involved with CARRA.