In May 2007, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 46.
I felt despair, fear and a lack of hope for the future. I was put on drugs to slow the process, but they made me sick.
I'd get the injection on Friday and feel very tired and nauseous all weekend, but however bad I felt, I'd drive the 50 miles to the Arena to watch Sheffield Steelers play and, as time went on, Scimitars as well, some weekends making the trip Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
I wasn't going to let the drugs/disease ruin my enjoyment of the hockey.
The doctors gave me anti-sickness drugs but then I was taking four drugs to counteract the side effects of the injections.
All week I'd just sleep and work so I could make it to the hockey at the weekend.
Understanding how miserable I was, my daughter (18) talked me into a holiday in Canada, knowing I'd always wanted to see a Canadian winter and watch an NHL game.
In February 2008 we flew to Toronto. I had the best time of my life and fulfilled a lifelong ambition to ice skate outside whilst it was snowing. It was a dream come true.
We got tickets to see the Toronto Maple Leafs play and beat the Detroit Red Wings - what an experience! I had enjoyed the skating so much that I bought myself some skates, then considered the problem of getting them home on the plane.
Since then, I get to iceSheffield as often as possible (it's an hour away, but well worth the drive). When I'm on the ice, I'm a different person. I'm not limping, not feeling like I'm not capable; I'm happy, relaxed, positive and confident.
If, in everyday life I get frustrated, angry, sad or in pain, I try to remember the feeling of freedom and total bliss that ice skating give me. I'm also thinking positive for the future, my house is up for sale and
I'm going to move nearer iceSheffield (and the Arena) hopefully, Eckington.
I'm also saving up to make another trip to Canada, I'd love to skate on the frozen river in Ottawa. It'd be great to live in Canada where you could skate outdoors for about eight months of the year.
I'm counting down the days until the ice hockey season starts; I can't wait to see the Steelers and Scimitars ice their new teams.
i thought when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis I'd have to give up on my hopes and dreams but hopefully, not for a long time yet, thanks to ice skating and ice hockey.
Sue Lodge, Halifax, West Yorkshire.