In August of 2025, Holli Baron was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis (RP) at just 30 years old. Before her diagnosis, Holli experienced extreme fatigue and joint pain that made routine activities—like playing with her young children—unexpectedly difficult. During flare-ups, she found herself unable to lift her toddler, a reality that was especially heartbreaking at such a young age.
Like many people living with RP, Holli’s path to diagnosis was not straightforward. Some rheumatologists told her there was nothing wrong, while others believed she may have had a lupus-like illness. Everything changed when she developed a new symptom: the upper portion of her ear became red, hot, and painful. Holli shared a photo of the symptom with her rheumatologist, who immediately recognized it as a possible sign of relapsing polychondritis.
Further testing revealed calcifications in the cartilage of Holli’s trachea, confirming the diagnosis.
After learning that RP is a rare disease, Holli initially worried that there would be little research, limited funding, and few answers. Those fears were eased when she found the Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation. Connecting with the RP community helped Holli feel less alone and showed her that meaningful research and advocacy efforts are actively underway.
Today, Holli is encouraged by the tangible ways she can get involved and support research that helps improve the lives of those living with relapsing polychondritis.
Watch her story below.
