The Bios of our May 2021 Calendar Models

This is where you can get to know our real life models to understand their personal link to the cause, why they took part, how this helped them and a little bit more about them.

Please come back to view updates as these come in.

Jo Ann Naus:

Hello, I am JoAnn Nauss from Nova Scotia, Canada. My husband Kevin and I have 2 fur babies and own a Christmas Tree farm.

I work in Long Term Care and due to my Crohn’s and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, I have an Nursing Support office job now instead of working on the floor with my residents.

I was diagnosed 9 yrs ago after many years of suffering and am on Remicade treatments regularly.

Taking part in this calendar has been an honour and am looking forward to being a part of bringing awareness to Invisible Illness.

Ryan Oconnor Ballantyne: TBC

Vogue-Tessa Wadrup:

Hi, I’m vogue I’m 26 years old with a career in the nhs.

I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2015 after a five year battle with numerous medical professionals.

I became seriously unwell and my cry’s could no longer become ignored.

I have bechets vasculitis a form of auto - inflammatory disease that can attack any part of the human body. For many years I have struggled to be fitted into a select criteria with numerous admissions to hospital with inflammation on my organs. Alongside these I suffer with rashes, arthritis and constant pain.

Since 2015 I have been on a regime of multiple immunosuppressants and steroid medication to control the active disease to which all failed. In 2019 I was started on infliximab a biological drug that has changed my quality of life and controlled my disease activity. At this time I was also diagnosed with a cross over of Crohn’s disease which I inherited from my mom.

The journey has been nothing short of testing but many lessons have been learnt along the way.

I learnt to value the smaller things in life and appreciate each day I felt better than others. I have met many inspiring men and women along the way that have similar conditions and this has gave me comfort knowing I was not alone.

My family, partner & friends are supportive & encourage me to carry on working & enjoying life regardless of the challenges I have faced.

I was honoured to be asked to be a part of the calender to raise awareness for invisible disabilities as the stigma is still very real.

If I have learnt anything in the last decade with this illness it is that no matter what obstacles we face there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Maintaining a positive mindset even on the darker days will give you the strength you need to push through.

Rhian Thompson: TBC

Charley Elizabeth James:

My name is Charley and I am 33.

I have Borderline Personality Disorder, Anxiety and suffer from Depression. I also have Asthma, Hyper Mobile Joints , Dysmenorrhoea and Diabetes.

I am high functioning so when I am in pain, mentally or physically, I don't give up until I really can't go in anymore. This sometimes leads people to think that I am putting it on or that things can't be that bad for me.

Some days I can't walk, some days I'm dancing like I've never known a day of pain in my life. I wouldn't be me if I didn't have my illnesses, but I choose not to let my illnesses define me.

Harriet Clayton: TBC