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Unioto graduate Maria DiFrango plans on going to Ohio University in the fall to study music education. (Photo: Robert McGraw/Gazette)

CHILLICOTHE Growing up, one Union-Scioto Local Schools student loved playing music. But a diagnosis during her junior year of high school nearly put her passions at risk.

Maria DiFrango, a senior at Unioto High School, has been involved in the school's music and band programs since the sixth grade. But during the summer before her junior year of high school, DiFrango's hands started to hurt. Then, it became difficult to play and practice. Soon after, DiFrango was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

"For me, this means that my joints and hands hurt," she said. "That makes it hard to do the things I like to do."

DiFrango's love of music began at a young age. She remembers always singing in the shower and practicing instruments as a child. When her older brother began playing percussion in school, DiFrango knew she wanted to follow suit.

In sixth grade, she joined the school band. Since then she's gone on to participate in marching band, music programs outside of her school and at church.

But towards the end of DiFrango's sophomore year, she began to notice that her hands, fingers and knuckles would ache. Up until then, she showed no symptoms ofrheumatoid arthritis. Although lupus runs in her family, DiFrango never suspected that she had it. At times, DiFrango's pain and stiffness were so bad that she couldn't even open doors.

That summer, her family took her to a physician where she underwent tests. Although there is no test for lupus, DiFrango met all of the criteria to be diagnosed. She was given medication for both conditions in hopes that her pain would be alleviated, allowing her to continue performing music.

As DiFrango waited to see if the medicine was the right fit for her, she began learning her own boundaries will playing instruments to ensure she didn't overexert herself. Yet she remained determined to prove she would still be a successful musician.

Most of her inspiration came from the fact that in the drumline of the school's marching band, DiFrango is surrounded by male classmates. Feeling like she already had to prove herself, DiFrango pushed herself each time she performed. Furthermore, as the field commander for the marching band, DiFrango felt a responsibility to students who look up to her.

"As a leader, I can't set the example that giving up is an option," she said.

And she didn't.

DiFrango continued to play and perform and has since been generally pain free. One of the hardest things about her diagnosis is the fact that the medication DiFrango takes weakens her immune system. So when the flu shutdown most school districts this fall, and with the coronavirus pandemic, it's been a scary time for DiFrango.

Despite it, she has continued to perform music at her home. DiFrango has completed eight months of preparation on pieces to perform at three different college auditions. She ultimately decided to attend Ohio University where she earned a $7,300 talent scholarship to study music education. While at college, DiFrango plans to join as many musical groups as she can.

"Band has always been a part of my life. It has given me a sense of family," she said. "While I am passionate about music, teaching is my joy and to teach, you have to do."

Have a story tip or comment?Contact Toria at tbarnhart@gannett.com or 740-349-1106. Follow her on Twitter @ToriaBarnhart.

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Unioto senior living with arthritis, lupus doesn't waiver on her passion to perform music - Chillicothe Gazette

This entry was posted on June 4, 2020 at 11:42 pm and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |