Using illness as inspiration

[Guest guest]

Using illness as inspiration

Kerr has found a bright side to juvenile arthritis:

He's helping other kids cope with the disease and planning a career in

medicine.

By Knowles Lancaster New Era

http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/27598

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - Kerr never expected to be a teen advocate for

the Arthritis Foundation. Fate took care of that.

Kerr, 18, is the son of Tammy and Kerr of Lancaster. His mother is an

administrative assistant for the Arthritis Foundation. She had worked for

the foundation for two years, when first , then daughter Kayla, were

diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

" It was very ironic, but one of the good things is that my mother knew a lot

about arthritis and what doctors to see, what the symptoms are, and the

treatments, " says Kerr.

His mother's involvement in the Arthritis Foundation led to becoming

a teen advocate who could help other teens cope with a condition that most

people think of as an " old people's disease. "

He also will be helping to raise funds for two upcoming Arthritis Foundation

events - the APPLAUSE! fashion show, which kicks off Thursday and the Jingle

Bell Run, which kicks off Wednesday.

" I'm here to prove that arthritis is something kids can get. I've had it

since I was 13, maybe even before that, " says Kerr.

At 6-foot-7, Kerr might have been an athlete, and was always talented in

baseball and basketball. However, his arthritis prevents him from pursuing

his athletic interests, although he does enjoy the beneficial exercise of

swimming.

It's not easy to cope with aching joints, unexplained fevers, swelling in

his arms and legs, gastrointestinal distress, tiredness and other symptoms

that few teens have to deal with.

Sometimes Kerr feels OK; other times he can barely get out of bed. He

attends Century Cyber Charter School because it is difficult for him to get

to school each day. He never knows when his arthritis will flare up.

Even so, there is a bright side to all the challenges he has faced. He has

been a volunteer in the Arthritis Foundation's teen advocacy program for

five years, helping other kids deal with juvenile arthritis. Someday he

hopes to become a doctor or medical researcher, in the field of pediatric

oncology, rheumatology or endocrinology.

" Science is my best subject and I think with all of my personal experience

with arthritis, the medical field is what I want to pursue, " says Kerr.

In the years since he was diagnosed with juvenile spondylarthopathy, Kerr

has struggled with an illness that started as severe flu-like symptoms, then

progressed to painful, swollen joints, ligaments and tendons. He has tried

many medications and treatments, in hopes of finding one that will make his

life more comfortable.

" I have an excellent pediatric rheumatologist, " Kerr says, referring to Dr.

Brandt Groh at Hershey Medical Center. " I hope that with new research and

drug development, I will have a better future. "

When he was younger, Kerr attended Camp JRA - which stands for Juveniles

Reaching Achievement, rather than Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, he

explains. Now Kerr is a counselor in training, and hopes to become a

counselor at the camp that helps young people learn more about coping with

arthritis.

Each year, he joins others in fundraising for the Arthritis Foundation and

attending the annual American Juvenile Arthritis Organization conference.

His sister, Kayla, 12, participates in the APPLAUSE! fashion show and other

events to fund the Arthritis Foundation. Her arthritis is not as severe as

her brother's.

" Next year our family will be attending and volunteering at the 2007 AJAO

Conference in Hershey, " says Kerr.

In his role as a teen advocate, he writes to local representatives and the

media to get support for the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act,

which is expected to help in research to develop better treatments for

people with arthritis. It is also expected to provide incentives for medical

students to specialize in the field of pediatric rheumatology.

" With more pediatric rheumatologists, families will have better access to

the medical care they need, " says Kerr.

Families like his, and doctors like his.

" I hope to be a part of that someday myself, " says Kerr.

The Arthritis Foundation will hold a kick-off for the APPLAUSE! fashion show

in March from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the foundation office, Room B107,

630 Janet Ave. The foundation is seeking models ages 3 through teens. Each

model is required to raise a minimum of $250 toward juvenile arthritis

research.

A kick-off for the Dec. 10 HealthAmerica Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis will

be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the foundation office. Team

packets and registration forms will be available. The Jingle Bell Run, at

Granite Run Corporate Center, includes a 5K run and a one-mile Kids Fun Run.

Visitors both nights also can pick up information on the annual Arthritis

Walk, May 5. For more information, call 397-6271 or visit www.arthritis.org.