A Day in the Life of a Child with Arthritis

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A Day in the Life of a Child with Arthritis

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/4/prweb376202.htm

Arthritis does not just afflict the elderly. There are nearly 300,000

children in America with some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease.

Lincoln illustrates the impact arthritis can have on a child by

describing a day in her son's life.

Fredericksburg, VA (PRWEB) April 24, 2006 -- Arthritis does not just

afflict the elderly. There are nearly 300,000 children in America with some

form of arthritis or rheumatic disease.

Lincoln describes the impact arthritis can have on a child

by describing a day in her son's life.

" He wakes up every morning stiff and sore, some days are worse than

others. Most mornings he is unable to get out of bed without assistance.

Once awake, he makes his way downstairs and knows he must eat something so

that the 5 different medications that he takes twice a day will not make him

nauseous. Next comes the difficult task of getting dressed. Typically he

wears a pullover shirt, but on the really bad days it's just too painful to

reach up and put his arms through the holes, so he selects a nice button

down shirt instead. After getting dressed he slowly attempts to walk and

before long is moving freely with little assistance.

Today he is getting his monthly Remicade infusion. He catches a ride

to town Hospital's Lombardi Center. Here the nurses and doctors take

very good care of him and prepare him for the infusion. He lays back on the

hospital bed and begins to cry. He hates needles. But he knows that the

infusion will make him feel better. Half way through the infusion he starts

to react to the medicine. Most times he has severe back and stomach pain and

normally spikes a fever. The infusion is stopped and he is given steroids

and Benadryl to interrupt the reaction. It typically takes 20 minutes or so

for the pain to subside. After a short nap he wakes up feeling rejuvenated

and asks " Mommy, can we go paint now? "

Sam is 5 years old. He has been living with Juvenile Rheumatoid

Arthritis (JRA) for four years now. Before he was diagnosed, I never

considered that children could get arthritis - I only thought it affected

the elderly. My husband and I got a crash course in this disease and were

astounded by what our son was going through. Our hearts grew heavy with each

passing day. We just couldn't believe that our little baby boy who seemed

perfectly healthy a month before was now showing so many symptoms. Sam was

ultimately diagnosed with the systemic form of JRA. To date, he has had

inflammation in most of his joints, including his breast bone and spine and

inflammation around his heart (pericarditis). As a result of this autoimmune

disease and the immunosuppressant medications he takes, he contracted

pneumocystis (a lung infection) and is severely anemic requiring multiple

blood transfusions.

All of that aside, Sam is an amazing child. He never gives up and

adapts to whatever God has in store for him. This disease may have weakened

his muscles and joints, but it has strengthened his determination and

willpower. Sam touches so many people in so many different ways. Sam is

special and not just because he endures this " grown up " disease, but because

he loves life and appreciates all aspects of it. He takes nothing for

granted and embraces each and every day. I know many adults that can't say

the same (myself included). He has taught me more in his lifetime than I

have learned in mine.

Like his Nanny always says, " Don't pity him, he doesn't need your pity

for what he can't do, help him celebrate the things he can do " and " he

doesn't have a disability he has a different ability. " His Nanny is a very

wise woman who cares so deeply for him. "

Sam Lincoln is the 2006 Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk Junior Hero. The

Arthritis Walk is the Arthritis Foundation's signature event that takes

place in communities nationwide to raise funds and awareness to fight

arthritis, the nation's number one cause of disability. It kicks off each

May during National Arthritis Month. To participate in the Arthritis Walk,

volunteer or to form a team, visit http://www.arthritis.org or call the

Arthritis Foundation, Virginia Chapter at 804-359-1700 x305.