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World-renowned pianist,
Byron Janis, has overcome a
lifetime of living with a serious and debilitating form of
arthritis that nearly ended his career. In conjunction with
the release of his autobiography and documentary, Janis
performed and shared his story at the Arthritis Foundation’s
national meeting on Friday, Nov. 19 in Miami Beach.
For more than 38 years, Janis has
struggled with psoriatic arthritis in his hands, wrists and
fingers. Psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory form of
arthritis, attacks the joints causing inflammation and
limiting range of motion. Though often in severe pain, he
continued performing with only sporadic absences from the
stage.
“Arthritis pain
is many times so severe it restricts people from doing the
very things they love,” states Arthritis Foundation Chief
External Relations Officer, Deborah Neuman. “Byron Janis’
life is an inspiration, not only in the music world, but as
an amazing story of overcoming incredible odds.”
Janis, regarded
as a child prodigy at the age of four, has played all over
the world. Though arthritis pain affected Janis for many
years, he suffered in silence for fear that it would destroy
his career.
In 1985, Janis
announced at a White House concert that he had become an
ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation. Since then, Janis
has appeared in many settings as a face for the disease and
inspiring others with his story.
In
his newly released autobiography,
Chopin and Beyond: My Extraordinary Life in Music and the
Paranormal,
amongst the many amazing stories he shares, Janis tells of
his journey with psoriatic arthritis and how he overcame his
many struggles. In addition, a Peter Rosen documentary,
The Byron Janis Story, airied this month on PBS stations
throughout the country, including WPBT
in Miami Beach on Wednesday,
Nov. 24.
“Arthritis
taught me to look inside myself for new sources of strength
and creativity,” says Janis. “Arthritis has given my life a
new intensity.”
Janis signed copies of his autobiography,
Chopin and Beyond: My Extraordinary Life in Music and the
Paranormal, at the
Miami Book Fair on Saturday, Nov.
20, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Arthritis
Foundation. For more information about arthritis and its
treatment, visit
www.arthritis.org.
The
Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org)
is the leading health organization addressing the needs of
the 50 million Americans, including 300,000 children, living
with arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of
disability. The Foundation helps individuals take control of
arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing
public policy and legislation; supporting research and
conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of
life for those living with arthritis.
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