11-year-old Q-C girl works to overcome rheumatoid arthritis

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11-year-old Q-C girl works to overcome rheumatoid arthritis

www.qctimes.com/articles/2007/12/19/features/health/doc47616cd9cc8ff076324417.tx\

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The fact that 11-year-old Shaunté -Boyle is playing the violin again has

several people in her life singing for joy.

The fifth-grade student at Garfield Elementary School in Davenport has spent the

past seven months dealing with excruciating pain brought on by juvenile

rheumatoid arthritis. This week, she is serving as the Community Youth Honoree

of the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis.

The youngster, along with an entourage of family and friends, will be featured

during Saturday's event at the Bettendorf Life Fitness Center. This comes mere

months after she was confined to a wheelchair and in so much pain she could not

be touched.

" Shaunte was chosen for her bravery and dedication to finding a cure for

arthritis, " said ez, a community services coordinator for the Iowa

Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation.

Shaunte is not entirely past her health problems, but she is able once again to

walk, run and hold a musical instrument, much like any other child.

The beginning

The Boyles took a family vacation in May, and Shaunte was stiff and sore when

they returned home. " At first, " said her mother, Valencia Boyle, " I thought it

was from the long car ride. "

But the pain continued, so Boyle took her child, the eldest of four, to a doctor

who thought the heavy violin case might be the problem. A new strap was

suggested.

Boyle gave Shaunte Ibuprofen for the muscle pain and, after further medical

consultation, took her a bone specialist. After several more attempts to ferret

out the problem, the family eventually was referred to University Hospitals in

Iowa City. There, they consulted with Dr. Polly Ferguson, the only pediatric

rheumatologist in the state.

By the time she was diagnosed with the debilitating disease July 3, Shaunte's

pain had extended to her toes, fingers, back, neck and hips. She would cry out

at night when she tried to turn over in her sleep, and her mother would rush to

her side to help.

Doctors believe that juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or JRA, is an autoimmune

disorder, which means the body's immune system attacks its own cells and

tissues. The reason is unknown, but there appear to be both hereditary and

environmental factors involved, according to the Mayo Clinic Web site.

After receiving the diagnosis, Boyle said the family realized Shaunte had been

showing signs of JRA for two years. Boyle's mother has arthritis and her

grandmother has rheumatism, she added.

Getting better

Shaunte is still in pain, but she manages it with the help of medications and is

just beginning physical therapy to strengthen her wrists. She recently walked

five blocks home from school.

" I can play in gym class, and now I take the stairs besides the elevator, " she

said of the two-story school she attends in central Davenport.

Shaunte especially likes her violin. " My teacher said she was glad to hear me

play it again, " she said. She also writes, sings in both the school and church

choirs, ushers at church and is in the Girl Scouts.

While the past months have been difficult, Shaunte and her mother have been

receiving help as they fight the disorder. " We have the support of our family,

church and bishop, " Boyle said. " We are not in this alone. "

The Boyles are active members of Gospel Mission Temple in Davenport, where the

bishop is the Rev. Jimmie Horton. " We get support on the spiritual side as well

as on the medical side, " Boyle said.

Shaunte is a great patient despite the trials she has faced. " She just never

complains, " her mother said.

Recently, Boyle watched as Shaunte and her other children ran and played in the

snow before heading to church. She was just about to scold them before stopping

herself. " And then I thought, 'Look at my baby run!' " she said.