Life & Work with Stella Miller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stella Miller.

Hi Stella, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
“Ouch!!!” The basketball bounced off my hands, and I could feel tears quickly fill my eyes. “What’s wrong?” my coach inquired. “I don’t know why, but that pass hurt my hands so bad,” I explained, trying to hold back tears. Coach walked over and grabbed my hands, “why do your knuckles look like that?” she asked. I explained, “I don’t know, but since it’s gotten colder, my hands have been so stiff, sore, and my knuckles have these funny nodules.” At this point, the coach was perplexed, and she brought me over to the high school athletic trainer. Even the trainer was stumped! After a few phone calls with the county athletic trainer, I was North Myrtle Beach High School’s first Rheumatology referral and on my way to the Medical University of South Carolina. At that point, I HATED the doctor. I was so petrified of needles and getting shots that I started vomiting as soon as we got close to Charleston. Looking back, I feel so bad because I probably scared all the little kids at the Children’s Hospital! I couldn’t even make it up the elevator without throwing up everywhere. It was horrible! The first few appointments didn’t go much better. After lots of tests, x-rays, and bloodwork on February 17, 2022, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis. It was a hard Spring. This autoimmune disease took over my body, and arthritis spread from my hands to my feet, hips, and knee. After basketball season ended, I was supposed to play AAU volleyball, and for the first time in my life, I was sidelined. If that wasn’t bad enough, I was put on Methotrexate, which is a chemotherapy drug but is also used as the first-line treatment for Juvenile Arthritis. My mom gave me shots every Friday night, and I spent the weekends sick with a giant headache and so much nausea that I could barely eat. The medication also caused tons of mouth sores, my hair got so thin, and I was exhausted because my liver hated Methotrexate as much I did. My mom asked me if all the side effects were worth the pain relief. When I didn’t hesitate and told her, “Yes, definitely,” she realized how much pain I’d been experiencing. Thankfully, I take a new medication now and have no side effects. It’s been wonderful! 

Sometimes, it’s at your lowest moments in life when you experience the most peace and love. I didn’t tell many people what was happening, yet I never felt so much support and love from my family, friends, doctors, coaches, and God. It was truly amazing to see so many people rally around me even when I was sick, scared, or mad about getting another shot or another test, or more bloodwork. Their unconditional love and support brought me to peace. Until last Spring my whole identity was sports, and nobody was sure if I would ever be able to play again. I had a lot of time to think about my life and listen to God. It was that peace that allowed me to find modeling. I decided that being a model, brand ambassador and doing pageants would provide me the greatest opportunity to raise awareness on behalf of the 300,000 kids/teens living with Juvenile Arthritis in the United States or the fact that autoimmune disease is the fastest growing segment of chronic illness in kids/teens. Even further, I want to personally serve as a reminder that people can look perfectly fine on the outside but can be suffering inside. Therefore, it’s so important to always act with love and peace by being kind to everyone. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Obstacles included the chemotherapy medication- Methotrexate, Sports- they were my whole identity until I couldn’t play anymore, and mentally- hiding my diagnosis from my peers for a long time as I wouldn’t want anyone to make fun of me or treat me differently. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Model. What sets me apart from others is my drive. I want to succeed. Not being able to play sports anymore changed my entire identity. I was lost for a long time and then found my passion! I want to be as successful as I was in sports and continue to grow and learn more every day! 

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
A risk I took was the chemotherapy treatment; I was not sure at first because I am deathly afraid of needles, so that was a big challenge for me. My hair was falling out, I was throwing up everywhere, and I could only eat cold food. I knew it was going to change my lifestyle, yet I took the risk because maybe it could help my body when I really just had a bad reaction to it. (Most kids have bad reactions to methotrexate, but I thought maybe I had that chance of having a good reaction…) 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stellamiller71?igsh=N3RrcWtpMXRwM3J6&utm_source=qr