REECE99: Race for CARRA! It's BACK!

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Charlotte's Journey with Arthritis & Uveitis

At the age of two, our youngest & 3rd daughter, Charlotte, started limping inconsistently & woke up one morning with a swollen knee. She was diagnosed with Pauci-Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (less than 4 joints) in October 2007. One month later, both knees were drained & given cortisone injections. Then a month after that, a wrist & an ankle.

It all came on at once & it came pretty fast. Including arthritis going to the eyes called Uveitis. And its the uveitis that's been her biggest battle. She's tried many medical options & went to Boston to see a uveitis specialist who worked with our team to concur a medical cocktail that has her joints & her eyes under control (with one bump April'11, so meds have altered, increased MTX by .2mls & have shortened the infusions of Remicade) :

1. Methotrexate (weekly shots) (.6 ML)
2. Remicade (every 6 weeks chemo infusions) (200mg)

This journey includes me as the Momma Research Director, my best friend, hubby as Daddy the Doer, with other starring roles of Sisters Emma the Consoling Oldest and Ellie the Exuberant Cheerleader.

Having a child with a suppressed immune system has opened doors to many opportunities for adventures as I document. But most of all learning how to live & cope with arthritis in a child who couldn't accurately express pain or feelings when first diagnosed to watching her grow into a little girl with the knowledge & use of language to share, express & report details is the biggest journey of all!

And then sometimes I take a break from that world & share shopping finds. Carpe Diem! The headbands I make (below) are a creative outlet for me to give proceeds to CARRA, pediatric rheumatologists conducting research to find a cause & cure for childhood arthritis.

More about uveitis (arthritis in the eyes): http://gabriellesvision.org/

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Race for CARRA! It's BACK!

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