Ohio native Allison Ross lives in Kansas City, Kansas, where she works full-time as a musician and writer. She is a graduate of the Oberlin College-Conservatory of Music and has played professionally in symphony orchestras around the U.S. In 2005 Allison was diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and is grateful every day to have reached remission. Allison spent several years on the board of directors for the Vasculitis Foundation and is the founder of Violin for Vasculitis Inc, a nationally-recognized nonprofit initiative featured on CNN’s “Human Factor.” She hopes that her column brings hope, joy, and humor to others with similar lifestyles.