#44 Wheelchair to West End: Ana Villafañe on Living with RA for 30 Years

**Episode 44: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast** *#44 Wheelchair to West End: Ana Villafañe on Living with RA for 30 Years* **One in four of us live with arthritis, so why do so many of us feel like we’re the only one?** Host Emily Johnson welcomes her dear friend Ana Villafañe, the actor and singer who originated the role of Gloria Estefan in Broadway’s On Your Feet! and is now making her West End debut as Ava Gardner in Sinatra: The Musical. Diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at just seven years old, Ana spent months in hospital and time in a wheelchair as a child, and was told she’d never wear heels or run. Thirty years on, and four years after a hip replacement, she opens up about the parts of RA nobody sees: years of denial, the night she told Gloria Estefan the truth, stilettos on a raked stage, and the question from her rheumatologist that changed everything: “Why don’t you think you deserve to feel good?” Raw, funny and deeply moving, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone, and you’re going to be okay. **Topics covered:** *Growing Up with RA* - **Diagnosed at Seven** Falling ill at the 1996 Olympics and first hearing the words 'juvenile rheumatoid arthritis' - **Not the Only One** How summer camps for kids with arthritis and disabilities changed everything - **From Sick Girl to Showgirl** Feeling like a burden, and how singing turned 'the girl who couldn’t' into the girl who could *Denial, Disclosure and the Spotlight* - **Rebranding in LA** Skipping meds, hiding flares, and dating with an invisible condition - **'So I Can Trust You'** Telling Gloria Estefan about her RA, and eight months on Broadway without calling out - **Behind the Curtain** Stilettos on a raked stage, compression boots, and the reality of 8 shows a week *A New Hip and a New Mindset* - **Deserving to Feel Good** The question that led to a hip replacement six days after wrapping a film - **Visibly Disabled Again** Crutches, kindness from strangers, and walking the red carpet anyway - **Non-Negotiables** Sleep, fuel, movement and medication, and learning to run after being told she never would ***About the podcast:*** With a focus on reducing inflammation and improving daily life, this podcast features expert interviews, science-backed strategies, and real stories from people living with all types of arthritis. Emily combines her 12+ years of lived experience and insights from healthcare professionals to offer practical, encouraging steps that help you feel healthier, happier, and less alone when living with arthritis. Emily is a bestselling author, certified coach, and founder of Live Well with Arthritis. **Episode Links:** Live Well with Arthritis Programme Waitlist: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/waitlist FREE Workbook: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/signup-free-download **Ana Villafañe @anavillafaneofficial** - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anavillafaneofficial/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anavillafaneofficial - New single, Suelta: https://open.spotify.com/track/0ghIrWV5H2CQPmcAtVB4rR - Sinatra: The Musical, Aldwych Theatre, London **Emily Johnson @ArthritisFoodie** - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthritisfoodie/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritisfoodie Further Resources: https://linktr.ee/arthritisfoodie * * * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.