A Parents Story/ Larson

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Here it is:Becki! I took the liberty to paste and resend it to the

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Hire it is;

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Larson is No Longer in Pain

“I have a brand new body”

Right before Larson’s third birthday, doctors diagnosed him with

systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. He wasn’t able to run or

play, and had constant fevers and rashes. tried high doses of

several drugs, but received no relief. Then, at age 4, a seven hour drive

to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center changed everything.

Today, enjoys playing soccer and inline skating.

Becki and Allan Larson live seven hours from Cincinnati Children’s in

sburg, Tennessee, with their two children, Shelby and . Both

children seemed to be healthy, until, at age 2, endured 21 days of

high fevers and a rash that covered most of his body. “He couldn’t walk,

use the bathroom or feed himself,” Becki says. “He just screamed in pain,

and every day we knew we were getting one day closer to losing him.”

Doctors diagnosed with systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid

arthritis, which is characterized by fever and a light skin rash, and may

also affect the internal organs. They prescribed him high doses of

Prelone®, methotrexate and ibuprofen, but nothing proved to be

successful. needed help just using the bathroom and getting out of

bed. He woke up painfully stiff every morning and couldn’t run or play

with his friends. Six months later, suffered a systemic flare.

Becki and then applied for Enbrel®, a fairly new drug that has

shown dramatic advancement is treating JRA, in hopes of it taking away

’s pain.

Months went by and they received no response to their application for

Enbrel®. During those months, , at age 3, weighed as much as an

average 8-year-old and had to use a medical stroller. Doctors added the

drug Plaquenil® to ’s list of medications, but still there was no

relief.

A Seven Hour Drive

Finally, Becki learned about a drug study for Enbrel® at Cincinnati

Children’s. She immediately called the number and talked to

Lovell, MD, MPH, associate director of the Division of Rheumatology. Dr.

Lovell notified her that was eligible to join the study.

After talking to Dr. Lovell, the Larsons embarked on a seven hour drive

to Cincinnati Children’s. “It was the best drive of our life,” Becki

says. “We came home with a simple piece of paper but a powerful piece of

paper. It gave the permission to obtain Enbrel®.”

With that powerful piece of paper, received his first shot of

Enbrel® in September 2002.

Reason to Celebrate

“Nine days after the first shot woke up jumping and running – not

the stiff 80-year-old man we were used to,” Becki says. “He was so happy

that he didn’t hurt.”

Three months after was able to take Enbrel®, he regained complete

control of his disease and has been doing well ever since. “I have a

brand new body,” says.

Now, age 6, enjoys playing with his hot wheels, inline skating, and

playing soccer. “He is tall and lean and can run like the wind,” Becki

says. “Nothing tires him and nothing stops him.”

A Life-Changing Doctor

Becki and Allan believe the care received from Dr. Lovell has made

all the difference. “We owe everything to that man,” Becki says. She

notices that he always takes thorough exams and looks at every joint in

’s body.

Becki and hope never has to go through the same pain again.

They know that a recurrence could happen at any time, but feel confident

knowing Dr. Lovell is by their side. “Someday right out of the blue the

arthritis will come back,” Becki says, but knowing that Cincinnati

Children’s is only a seven hour drive away gives us hope that we will

beat it again.”