Zachary continues to make music despite fight with autoimmune disease

Zachary is a celebrated concert oboist, a skill that he has preserved to perfect since a young age. That same drive to preserve has helped Zachary as he has dealt with multiple health conditions throughout his life, starting with seizures at age three, and then a systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosis at age 16 following a stroke, along with mixed connective tissue disease, CNS vasculitis and arthritis. He spent a week in the ICU and further time in the hospital and had to resume remote learning due to his autoimmune diagnosis. These were challenging setback for a teenager who was ready to get back to normal after COVID-19. Zachary has regular rheumatology appointments and bloodwork to track the progression of the diseases. Today he is in remission and has been able to resume most of his regular activities, including playing the oboe.